Alan Pardew walks down the touchline of the Selhurst Park pitch as Crystal Palace manager tomorrow with the words of Sir Alex Ferguson ringing in his ears.

It will also be an emotional moment for the 53-year-old, who admitted that the stadium holds a special place in his heart, having worn the red and blue shirt for four years.

He said: “It is a long time since I played here, and I’d like to think I am coming back as a better manager than I was as a player here.

“It is one of those stadiums that has a special feeling for me because obviously I played here.

“And the fans are great. Our Holmesdale fanatics have made a statement in the Premier League, which every Premier League team wishes they had – it’s that little corner of the ground that does not stop singing and getting behind the team.

“It’s important that I serve up belief for them, and then they will serve it up for the rest of the season, and we’re going to need it.”

He added: “Hopefully the rest of the stadium follows suit, we have to create pressure and momentum that gets us victories.

“One thing that is always in the back my mind is Sir Alex Ferguson telling me that the most important thing is momentum, and we have got to get that.”