FA Cup: Alan Pardew out for cup run with Crystal Palace

Alan Pardew believes an extended FA Cup run can breed a "winning mentality" to boost Crystal Palace's Premier League relegation battle.

Pardew saw his new side beat Conference outfit Dover Athletic 4-0 in the FA Cup third round on Sunday, in his first game since being confirmed as Eagles boss.

His side won thanks to a headed brace from Scott Dann early on, before Dwight Gayle and Kevin Doyle found the net in the second half, and he is now looking forward to Monday's draw.

The former Palace player said: "I said to the players that an FA Cup run gives confidence and it breeds a winning mentality. And it was important that we won the game. So we're in the hat and, like in any cup competition, if you're in it, you can win it."

Pardew kept quiet on Newcastle matters after just 48 hours in the Selhurst Park hotseat, but his cup ambitions indicate his true feelings on the Magpies' recent pragmatism.

Newcastle won just one FA Cup match in their four years under Pardew, with owner Mike Ashley's focus on the Premier League revealed at a May 2014 board meeting.

Supporters on Tyneside were often left frustrated by a perceived lack of ambition, while Pardew generally kept his counsel on the matter.

Pardew added: "I'm going to promise the fans two things - one that we're going to put the ball at risk and two that we're going to have a go. I'm fortunate that they already have a special bond with me anyway, through my playing days here.

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"But I've been on the other side of that support and that noise that they generate at Crystal Palace. Hopefully that will keep them in that frame of mind that they are at the moment until the end of the year, because we won't go up, or stay up, without them.

"I really did change my formation today, really and truly to say to the team, that we need to put the ball at risk. I was trying to get the message to the team that we need to have a bit more attacking oomph, so to speak.”

The new boss believes positive, attacking football will be vital to their chances of avoiding the drop.

He continued: "We are not going to stay in the Premier League unless we express ourselves.

"Although Scott Dann will get the headlines for the two headed goals, actually he should get the headlines for his distribution from the back, which was excellent."