Sunday 10 April 2016 08:08, UK
Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew paid tribute to the club's fans after the Eagles beat Norwich 1-0 at Selhurst Park to climb 10 points clear of the drop zone.
A lengthy winless run had seen Palace slide down the Premier League table and defeat to the Canaries would have dragged them towards a relegation scrap.
But Jason Puncheon settled a nervy affair with a classy goal, ending a personal Premier League scoring drought of 26 games, and Palace should now be able to enjoy a run-in which includes an FA Cup semi-final against Watford on 24 April.
The home fans were in good voice throughout and Pardew felt their fervent support played a part in the outcome.
Pardew said: "I have been in this game a long time, as a player and a manager, and I was as nervous today as a manager as I have ever been, I think, in my career, because it was so important.
"I tried not to relay that to the players, because I needed to keep a steady hand here today, but you could definitely sense it in the team.
"We were edgy, we were nervous. Fortunately, our fans really helped us today. Massively. I don't think we would have won without the fans today.
"So, we kept going. I settled them down at half-time, even though I was a bit nervous, and we managed to get through it.
"It meant a huge amount to us all, from the chairman to the new directors. It was an important win."
Pardew was full of praise for Puncheon, who missed a great chance in the first half but bounced back to produce the decisive moment of the match.
"He was very instrumental the year they stayed up under Tony Pulis, scoring some important goals," said Pardew.
"He was great for me last year, a great pro and, if someone was to get the most important goal of the season, it could not be more apt that it was him.
"He is brilliant with the younger players. He is a black player, which sends out all the right signals to the area we are in here, and he handles himself in the right way.
"Some players play for a football club, they're professional, but they have no emotion to it. He's born here, his family are all from here. They were probably all in the stands today.
"He was feeling the pain of this run and his introduction back in the last two games has been a huge lift for us. Not just because of the manner in which he plays, but his personality and his leadership."
Looking towards the future, Pardew added: "I hope when we play Everton on Wednesday we are a little bit more relaxed than we were today, the win might help us do that.
"The job is not done, we can still finish mid-table, and we want to get the job done, because we still have a semi-final of the FA Cup.
"Our season could suddenly become one of the best ever, if not the best ever.
"Nerves played a part in this run, injuries certainly did, and perhaps a bit of inexperience.
"But every year you are up here makes you stronger, and that is what we hope to be next year."
