Crystal Palace U23 coach Richard Shaw is convinced his young players are rapidly improving.
The Eagles' U23 side are currently nine points clear at the top of the Professional Development League, after beating Queens Park Rangers 3-0 on Monday.
"Last year we struggled but they had to go through that to come to this and I knew we would start to pick up results because last year we had a team of second year scholars, but now they are first year pros and a few second year scholars, but their attitude has been good," Shaw told the club website.
"They have worked hard and they are developing, which is great, and they are learning every day about their game.
"They are listening to the information we are giving them, the sessions are good and they are working hard in the games.
"It's a good collective group and working hard for each other and as I say we had to go through last year to get to this year, but they have done really well."