Palace boss Pardew: We are safe now

Alan Pardew believes Crystal Palace are safe from the threat of Premier League relegation.

Their 0-0 draw at home to Everton last night took their points total for the season to 38, leaving them in 16th.

Though relegation remains a mathematical possibility, manager Pardew said: “I don’t think it’s possible for the others to catch us now.”

On the game, he added: “Connor (Wickham, Palace’s substitute) looked like a player who’s been injured, and (Emmanuel) Adebayor did well when he came on. So there are positives.”

James McCarthy’s dismissal, seven minutes into the second half after a second yellow card, left Everton with 10 men for a significant period of the game but amid intense pressure, they remained resilient and earned what was ultimately an impressive point and clean sheet.

Boss Roberto Martinez said: “That resilience we had to show. But that’s not enough on its own, you need tactical awareness as well, and we showed that.

“I’m very pleased, to keep a clean sheet and manage the game in that way is perfect timing. It’s great to see we’re learning from our hard lessons. Probably, the timing of this performance is perfect.

“It all matters in the final weeks of the campaign. It’s now you want to hit your top level.”

Everton found out that they will meet Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final next weekend, and Martinez said: “To play a semi-final of the FA Cup against Manchester United at Wembley is as good as it gets. We’ll enjoy it and will be ready.”