Former Newcastle boss Alan Pardew believes Palace’s players will do the talking when he returns the north east for the first time at Sunderland this weekend.

Pardew is sure to receive a less than friendly welcome from followers of Newcastle’s main rivals, the game coming hot on the heels of Sunderland’s usual three points against their bitterest foe last weekend.

Jermain Defoe’s stunning strike helped ease the relegation fears somewhat at the Stadium of Light but the feel-good factor will quickly disappear if the Eagles can collect a fourth straight victory.

Pardew said: “I expect an atmosphere that they normally create for any game there.

“We are going there in great form and I think the stadium will be wary of us of the 11 players that are on the pitch because it is irrespective of my reception, it is about the 11 players on the pitch.

“I think the Sunderland fans know that we are in really good form.”

Dick Advocaat has been handed the task of making sure the Black Cats beat the drop and his opposite number feels the Dutchman’s appointment is a shrewd one.

Pardew explained: “He is a successful manager – the Dutch national manager and obviously a successful manager at Rangers.

“It is a great move for them to have someone of his experience at this time and he has proven that.

“I think it is fair to say they’ve gone a little bit more direct and a little bit more positive in the way they are trying to affect the opposition.

“They have some good players and it is always a difficult place to go so I don’t think we are under any illusions - it is a team on the back of a great victory and they will be buoyed for our game.”

Palace are virtually mathematically safe now with 39 points and Pardew is demanding his players push on between now and the end of the campaign to see just how high they can climb.

“We haven’t set an outcome target in terms of points we are going to get but we have talked about the standards that we’ve set and we need to maintain those,” the Selhurst chief said.

“If we maintain those then our position might surprise a few from what is normally classed as our norm – the lower half of the Premier League maybe – we can exceed.

“You need to do it in the Premier League – go on straight to the next game and hopefully get three more points.

“We are three points away from the top ten so of course it is (a realistic aim).”

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