Former Newcastle boss Alan Pardew says he is happy for the Geordie supporters after they beat West Ham 2-0 to ensure Premier League safety.

The current Crystal Palace manager may not have been a crowd favourite at St James’ Park but when he left in January they were looking up rather than down the table.

Pardew was able to steer the Eagles from drop candidates to tenth in the table, their highest ever position in the Premier League.

But it was a completely different story for his old charges, who finally ended a 10-game winless streak to only guarantee survival with today’s final day triumph over the Hammers.

Pards said: “I’m so pleased for the fans of Newcastle, in particular the staff and players.

“They managed to get a win as well, which was good. It was in their hands and they got over the line.

“It was a great first half of the season for me there. It didn’t start particularly well, we got better, we got stronger.

“Then on arrival here at a club in a difficult position but not short of quality and not short of character – and my goodness they proved that.

“This league is demanding physically and mentally and we have come through that.”

Unlike his time in the north east, Pardew is definitely a crowd favourite at Selhurst Park after making an instant impact in the dug-out at the club where he was revered as a player.

“In the second half of the season, the last 18/19 games or whatever it is, our record was phenomenal,” Pardew said.

“Only the top teams’ is better and that comes down to a strong group.

“Every technical game plan I give them they deliver so they made my job easier.”

Asked how big an achievement it was for Palace to make the top ten following results elsewhere and a final day 1-0 success over Swansea, Pardew instead pinpointed the significance of last weekend’s 3-1 win at Liverpool as the main factor.

“We knew we had a chance today,” he explained.

“Everton had a tough game, West Ham had a tough game and that is what this league is about – you’ve got to just keep picking up the points when you can, which we’ve done.

“Winning this tenth position was more down to the victory at Liverpool than it was down to the victory today.

“We gave ourselves a chance and we took it. It is remarkable really to finish tenth.

“I would never have dreamt it. When I arrived I would never have believed it.

“It has been a great experience and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.

“I really enjoy working with the staff and players. We now need to kick on if we can and we will try and do that.”

Today’s win also ensured Palace sent their own fans home happy for the summer after some poor results in SE25.

Pards admitted: “Our home form is an area we do need to improve, I’m not going to hide from that.

“When I arrived I actually looked at the home games and I was concerned because the second half of the season at home was really tough for us.

“The away schedule did look a bit easier which has been proven in results if I’m honest.

“I get a full season next year so that moan won’t be there. I think that was something to do with it but we do need to find a little bit more quality in that final third.”

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