Sunday 31 January 2016 08:55, UK
Alan Pardew says he hopes to put two FA Cup final losses behind him and believes Crystal Palace have the 'talent' to win the tournament.
Pardew's side reached the fifth round after a deserved 1-0 win over Stoke, stirring the manager's hopes of another final 10 years after his last.
On that occasion in 2006 his young West Ham team were on the verge of a 3-2 victory until Steven Gerrard scored an exceptional equalising goal before Liverpool won on penalties.
That came 16 years after his first, when as a Palace player he was denied by Stoke manager Mark Hughes forcing a replay they lost by scoring for Manchester United seven minutes from the end of extra time.
Asked about his team's chances this season, Pardew said: "If we can put [our league form] right this week, then I'll be really looking forward to the second half of the season.
"We definitely need to win one of these next two games, and then we can look forward to the cup.
"I've said it before: lesser teams than the quality I have have won this competition in recent years. We've got the talent to win it, you need a bit of luck with the draw: we don't need Man City away, we don't need Chelsea away, someone at home would be nice.
"Third-time lucky? I'm an eternal optimist. I'm always conscious of this competition, I've come so close on two occasions, that it's a strong bond in me to try and win it. This team is every bit as good as that team I took to that final in 2006, but you do need a break here and there."
One concern for Pardew might be an ankle injury suffered by Yohan Cabaye that forced him to substitute the midfielder.
Speaking about the challenge by Stephen Ireland and referee Mark Clattenburg's refusal to stop play, the manager was not keen to criticise the official too much.
"I thought Mark got that particular situation wrong," he said.
"It was a foul, because [Ireland] came from the side on Yohan. Yohan's ankle is swollen. We'll have to wait and see that there's not permanent damage there.
"Mark realised his mistake, perhaps, because we couldn't get any treatment to Yohan, I was waiting to get treatment and he was playing the game on, he lost his way a little bit there, but I don't want to criticise him, it was a tough game to referee."
