Crystal Palace manager, Alan Pardew. Pic: Crystal Palace.
Alan Pardew is aiming to pick up his first away Premier League victory as his squad tackle Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday.
Pardew won his first game in charge of Palace against Dover Athletic in the FA cup, and his first league game against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend. Now the Palace boss wants to end the Eagle’s run of eight league games without a win on the road.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s game at Turf Moor, the Eagles boss revealed that he hopes the positivity surrounding the club is still intact come Saturday afternoon.
Having taken a point away from Turf Moor already this season with Newcastle, Pardew believes he has an advantage over every other Premier League manager when he goes back.
Pardew told cpfc.co.uk: “It’s a different game as we have a different agenda and a different game plan, so our concentration has been on trying to affect them. I have an advantage over every other Premier League manager in that I’m going to go back there again because I’ve been there once already this season.”
“It was a tough game, we only just got a draw there with Newcastle, so it’s a tough place to go but the spirit is good. We have some momentum with two draws and two victories in our last four so we’ll take that to Burnley.”
Despite Palace’s good run under a new manager, history is not on their side. Neither of the clubs have won away to each other in the last 17 meetings, and Sean Dyche’s side have only been beaten once at Turf Moor in their last six games.
Burnley snuck out of the relegation zone last weekend, after beating fellow strugglers Queens Park Rangers 2-1 and have managed to pick up 13 of their 20 points in their last ten games.
The Eagles boss does not have many injuries to worry about as James McArthur is fit after shrugging off a foot injury that he picked up against Tottenham last weekend. But Marouane Chamakh is still out with a hamstring injury, and Yannick Bolasie and Mile Jedinak will be leaving for the African Cup of Nations and the Asian Cup respectively.
Pardew said: “Consistency is big but injuries can impact on that. The good thing is that everyone is fit as we go into Friday’s training, and the consistency in selection will be there and we can therefore focus on affection the opposition.”
As for Burley, Dyche might have to worry about Kieran Tripper, who has been out with a hamstring injury since last weekend. The full-back has played every game so far this season and could still shake it off and continue his record Saturday. Stephen Ward, Matthew Taylor and Kevin Long, with ankle, Achilles tendon and knee injuries respectively, will not be ready by Saturday.
