Wilfried Zaha hails Alan Pardew effect at Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha has claimed that new manager Alan Pardew has already made a big impact at the club.

Pardew won his first Premier League game in charge of the Eagles on Saturday as they came from behind to beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1.

Zaha believes that the former Newcastle boss will give the players at Selhurst Park the freedom and confidence to play an attacking style of football that could help them to climb further away from the relegation zone.

"I think the gaffer has brought a high around the team again. I'd heard a couple of good things about him before he came in and he's brought something different which will help us move forwards," he told the club's official website.

"He told us he wants to add a threat going forward and gave us set positions and tasks to do, like catch them on the break, and that's what happened.

"Even though I wasn't starting I couldn't let my head go down, I just knew that if I came on I had to make an impression for the gaffer and I did that so I'm buzzing. He told me to go on and take on players so I never had any fear coming onto the pitch, I just knew I had to do one piece of magic and give us a chance and I'm glad I did that."

Palace are back in Premier League action this Saturday when they travel to fellow strugglers Burnley.