BY ALL accounts it was a very good performance from the Eagles at Chelsea on Saturday and they had opportunities to pull off a tremendous result.
Going back four or five weeks, you'd go to Chelsea fearful they were going to be on the end of a big defeat.
But that didn't happen, and it's not happened because they've really tightened up and at the same time they look like they've got goals in them again.
This weekend they host Newcastle, who are managed by my old team-mate Alan Pardew.
It will be a good game because Newcastle are playing really good, open football. I don't think it will be a dour game, I think it will be end-to-end and the Palace boys are a lot more confident so I expect there will be goals.
Alan has done fantastically well - to get an eight-year contract is credit to the guy.
He's turned it around; Newcastle had a funny old summer and there's a lot of politics at that place, but he's been positive and you can see that in their performances.
He was always very good at organising. Some people would argue about his ability as a footballer, but playing alongside him you knew exactly what he was going to give.
He had a lot of nous and was a good communicator. When it comes to management it's exactly that, telling people what to do without being offensive.
Obviously it's Christmas Day on Wednesday, and that's a tough time for footballers.
More often than not, you're in for training on Christmas morning. Your Christmas Day is on hold because you have a big game the next day.
It's a busy time, but it's an exciting time and you'll see some bizarre scorelines.
If you're a footballer you're blessed to be a footballer and having to work over Christmas is a small price to pay.
