Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew spoke on Thursday (11th February) ahead of his side's English Premier League game against Watford on Saturday (13th February).

SOUNDBITE: (English) Alan Pardew, Crystal Palace manager: (on Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores)

"I'm a fan of the manager. I think he's gone about his business in a very professional manner. He has a great CV, he was a great signing by Watford and the players follow great managers. The players are lucky to have him and he is also lucky to have a good set of players there. Good leadership, a lot of foreign personnel there and to keep that spirit that Watford come up with is not easy and they've done that very well."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Alan Pardew, Crystal Palace manager: (on missing key players)

"Can't get away from the fact that key players affect your form and we've lost key players in one area. Our offensive area got completely wiped out so we've strengthened in the window with Big Addie (Emmanuel Adebayor) coming in and now they are coming back so that bodes well for us."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Alan Pardew, Crystal Palace manager: (on Palace's bad form)

"Very rare you go through a Premier League season, particularly a club of this size without having a difficult period. But this is a difficult period for us, but that point last week (1-1 draw with Swansea) might just put us on the right track."