Crystal Palace boss Ian Holloway watched his new side demolish Ipswich Town 5-0 to go top of the Championship table, and then outlined how he will take the club forward.

The 49-year-old is in the peculiar situation of taking over a club that is on top of its game rather than in dire need of change - last night's win over the Tractor Boys stretched the Eagles' unbeaten run to 12 games.

A Glenn Murray hat-trick, Yannick Bolasie's first goal for the club and a wonder breakaway goal from Andre Moritz sealed a comfortable debut for Holloway in front of a vociferous Selhurst Park faithful.

In the post-match press conference an enthused Holloway used the word "fantastic" 11 times, mostly preceeded with "absolutely".

"Tonight was a a banana skin, but we managed to not just step on it, we squashed it," he said.

"Without getting too over the top that was an absolutely fantastic performance.

"In terms of moving forward, I want to get a bit more movement in the team so the wide players can get the ball a little more. We need a little more interchanging with the man in the pocket.

"If I can do that without changing too much, keep them enjoying what they have got going on, keep their focus as strong as it already is, who knows where we can go.

"I want to free them up to smile and sing and join in."

With Ipswich Town bottom of the table, Holloway was relieved to have avoided an upset on his debut.

"I thought Ipswich caused us all sorts of problems, but my new team ground them down.

"Were they penalties? I don’t know, but I thought we’d have that late on in the game, because that is what this lot do – they get stronger and stronger and stronger."

He added: "And you have Yannick [Bolasie] going down one side, you have Wilfried [Zaha] – goodness how good this boy is ever going to be – down the other side.

"I have never seen anything like the things he does, it is just a joy to watch, I want to give him another ball so I can see him with a ball all the time. It is just great. With those two running at you, God help you.

"The balance of the back four is just terrific, and the two full backs got forward more today which I want.

"The two sitting midfield players were outstanding and Owen [Garvan] floated around causing all sorts of havoc.

"I am delighted for the crowd, and for me in a selfish way. As debuts go that doesn’t get much better."

The Holloway era continues this weekend when Palace go to Peterborough.