Alan Pardew demands a strong league finish from Crystal Palace
Friday 29 April 2016 14:48, UK
Alan Pardew has demanded Crystal Palace produce a strong finish to the Premier League season before they focus on winning the FA Cup.
The Eagles will contest the FA Cup final against Manchester United at Wembley on May 21 and are close to securing their top-flight status for the third season running which would represent a successful campaign in many of their fans' eyes.
However, Palace boss Pardew returns to former club Newcastle on Saturday for the first time since his departure in December 2014 - and despite the benefits involved in resting his key players for the Wembley showpiece, he insists he has no intention of letting up.
Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce has already spoken of his belief Palace will lose to Newcastle because of a lack of motivation from reaching the cup final and going "on the pop" to celebrate.
But Pardew said: "I need to focus the team on the most important issue: Saturday's game, and the two [against Stoke and Southampton] to come after that. I need to make sure we're covering bases so the team are focused for Newcastle.
"Where we should finish and where we do will be determined in the next few days. There's a small margin between us and the teams above us up to 11th. We are trying to hunt those teams down. We want to finish comfortable and then look forward to the final."
Saturday's fixture also represents Yohan Cabaye's first at St James' Park since he left Newcastle for Paris Saint-Germain in January 2014.
He was the Magpies' finest player until then, at which point their form began to decline and Newcastle fans' faith in Pardew reached a new low.
The 54-year-old said: "Cabaye showed the bigger the game the better he is [in Sunday's semi-final defeat of Watford].
"He rises to the occasion. I'm pretty sure that Newcastle's fans will give him a great reception because he was brilliant for us up there.
"You're due nothing in this game. We have to earn it. We have to earn it in a stadium where they're passionate for this team.
"Me going back to that club means nothing to those fans. They want to see their team playing with heart and spirit and winning. It's a tough ask trying to win there."
