Alan Pardew: Crystal Palace can finish in the top six without buying in January

Alan Pardew reckons Crystal Palace can finish in the top six in the Premier League this season

ALAN PARDEW believes his Crystal Palace side can make the top six this season even without buying big in next months transfer window.

 

Palace currently sixth in the Premier League are at home to his former club Southampton this afternoon.

And it is such a competitive League now that Saints could leap frog Eagles and pinch their place if they were to win at Selhurst Park.

He says: "We have proved we are comfortable in the top eight, and, one of eight clubs who are on the fringe of the four Champions League positions.

 

"We finished tenth last season and can dream about improving. If we can match what we achieved last year we can do better than that.

"Its a possibility we can end up in the top six, where we are right now, so if we  can beat Southampton it means we stay there.

"I don't think we need to change too much about the side, so I don't believe we need to get that involved in the transfer window."

Pardew made it to fifth with Newcastle a few years ago and goes on: "That side was better than the current Palace team, but we now have a spirit and confidence about us that surprises even me sometimes, and that can take you a long way."

Pardew is fully aware there will be money to spend once the American consortium finalise their financial investment in Palace.

 

Pardew insists he is not bothered that £8million signing Connor Wickham has failed to score

He goes on: "It is a question of keeping an eye on things and  watching what the teams around us in the League are doing.

"The Premier League will get bigger  and better, it has become enthralling entertainment. It is also very difficult and the pressure is always on."

But Palace must overcome Saints where Pardew was so successful, without injured front men Dwight Gayle and Bakary Sako, so Yannick Bolasie will once again play off Connor Wickham.

The £8 million pound buy has yet to score this season and Pardew says: "The fact that he hasn't got of the mark yet doesn't bother me.

"I've worked with enough quality strikers to know what he can achieve. We have  done well lately, but Southampton will make it hard for us and so well organised, they are the kind of side we would like to be."