Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew was delighted with his players after their 3-0 rout of Southampton.

The manager's team ended a run of six successive defeats that had put intense pressure on his position while earning their first clean sheet since August after two goals from Christian Benteke and another from James Tomkins.

"We had a session on Thursday that was the complete opposite," said Pardew, who was reportedly at risk of the sack if Palace lost a seventh straight game. "Sometimes you need that on the training ground.

"You've got frustration: we were tight, giving the ball away in our team play.

"Defensively we had to be sound, there was no other box we needed to tick: that was the most important one. Set-plays we were calm.

"I always think as a manager at any level, particularly in the modern era: expect the sack. Just expect it; it's coming at some stage, so just do your job as best you can. Every week, that's what I try to do.

"It was an important message to give the players after. The six defeats we've had, the way we've played, we didn't deserve what we got, but we needed to put that right.

"Damo (Delaney) is a leader. He's not blessed with massive amounts of talent but he makes up for it with his personality, desire and leadership, and we got all of that from him.

"The back four was better for him in it. They needed defensive work. They longed for it; they wanted the clean sheet.

"We really were hurt by the Swansea game (losing 5-4 last week after conceding two late goals), and you saw that hurt.

"Next week at Hull is even more important. We can't afford to lose that; we must go up there and get something."