CRYSTAL Palace midfielder Barry Bannan says he and his team-mates wanted to stamp their Premier League authority on League one side Walsall in Tuesday night.
Despite a bright start from the Saddlers, Palace soon got into their stride with Dwight Gayle scoring his first of three goals with an emphatic close-range finish.
Bannan played his second game in the space of 72 hours and impressed, while the Scotsman has hailed the team spirit at the club after a difficult two weeks.
"We wanted to start bright and put them on the backfoot early doors and let them know we were up for it," he said.
"With Cup games, it's like Cup finals for these teams playing against Premier League sides so we wanted to stamp our authority and put it to bed as quickly as possible.
"We've seen from Dwight at the end of last season, he's an unbelievable finisher and he took his three goals brilliantly really.
"On the whole, the way the team performed was pleasing. The players who came in played their hearts out and it just shows there is competition for places.
"It's down to team spirit. We have great team spirit as this club and everyone just works their socks off day in, day out, and that won't change no matter what happens.
"Everyone puts in a shift as we saw against Walsall and we came out comfortably.
"Every time you get a chance you've got to do as well as you can to try and forced your way into the team."
