Alan Pardew says setting lofty targets is key to Crystal Palace's success.

Palace were marooned in the bottom three when Pardew succeeded Neil Warnock last January, yet he still oversaw a 10th placed finish that is on course to be bettered this season.

"When I came here the most important thing was to go from the concept of a manager who was trying to stay in the division - which I think Neil Warnock's mentality was - to a manager who wanted to finish higher than that," the Eagles boss said.

"If you set your sights for the stars, you are going to fall a little bit less.

"The biggest difference I made here was changing the mentality of the players to make them think they could go and win.

"It's quite an important role for a manger, to give belief. I take that as massive for this football club at the time. I think there was a lack of belief.

"I changed the dynamic of the players and the attitude of approaching games.

"To go and win games and not a 'see how we go' kind of attitude to try and stay in the game."