ALAN PARDEW won his first Premier League game in charge of Crystal Palace and called his players "mavericks" after their 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening at Selhurst Park.
Dwight Gayle's penalty and Jason Puncheon's strike ten minutes from time helped the Eagles come from behind to beat Spurs, who took an early second half lead through Harry Kane's 17th goal of the season.
Pardew was given a messiah-like welcome from the Palace fans before the start and that went up a level at the end after the come from behind win which saw Palace move up to 15th in the Premier League.
The new manager stressed it was important his players kept their feet on the ground after the win but couldn't hide his delight at the result.
He said: "I've got a few mavericks but it needed to come out and today, it did.
"Our senior players have seen us home. One unbelievable tackle from Damo [Damien Delaney] which he had no right to make and then [Julian] Speroni's shot from their sub which went everywhere, he saved it brilliantly.
"We gave it all for the 90 minutes. I am glad it ended like it did as well with us having a couple more chances as well.
"You can go from ecstatsy like Spurs when they beat Chelsea, then come here and get beat at Palace. It will be the same for us if we lose to Burnley next week. We have to keep our feet on the floor.
"In this game it is not all about straight lines, eating the right food and turning up on time, you need some maverick behaviour in your team and I have seen today that I have got a few here."
Benjamin Stambouli brought down Joe Ledley for Palace's penalty - converted by Gayle - a decision Pardew agreed with. Harry Kane could have also had a spot kick late on but that one was waved away by referee Anthony Taylor.
[On Ledley] I thought I was a penalty, but then you'd have say Harry Kane's was as well, really", Pardew said. There were some tough decisions for the referee."
And Pardew revealed he checked his phone immediately after the game and had received a text message from his former Chairman.
"When I checked my phone after the game the first person who text me was Mike Ashley and I as delighted with that. It just said 'great result'. That was really nice to see.
"I'm just delighted for the fans who were brilliant, the chairman and the players."
