Crystal Palace vs Leicester City - Pardew sticks to his guns as Leicester loom large

Posted Saturday, March 19, 2016 by PA

Alan Pardew insists Crystal Palace will not change their attacking style to contain title favourites Leicester.

The Foxes are five points clear at the top of the table ahead of Saturday's meeting and eight games away from completing the greatest shock of the Premier League era.

In contrast, Palace have failed to win any of their last 12 league games and the Eagles are in danger of being pulled into a relegation scrap.

Victory over the league leaders this weekend could spark a turnaround but an open approach may also suit Leicester, who have proved themselves deadly on the counter-attack.

"We'll go toe-to-toe. My philosophy won't change," Pardew said.

"We've played reasonably well at home. I'm not going to change us. We're still going to play an open game, we're still going to attack the opposition.

"I could sit my team in and grind out some wins at home, but my fans don't want that.

"They want us to compete on an even keel with the top teams. We'll compete against Leicester."

Claudio Ranieri's men are within touching distance of the title but they have shown few signs of nerves in recent weeks, taking 10 points from the last 12 to strengthen their hold at the top.

A place in the top four, at the very least, looks secure and Pardew believes the majority of teams in the division are delighted by the Foxes' success.

"A lot of people in the game - chief executives, chairmen, agents, the media - assumed there was a glass ceiling to that Champions League, which was only going to get worse," Pardew said.

"Leicester have blown that apart. Thank goodness for that. We were concerned we wouldn't get a (Nottingham) Forest again, or a Wimbledon, and they're doing it.

"Nothing would be greater for all other teams in the Premier League if they won it.

"I'm not saying for the top four or five, it's not particularly great for them, but for all the other teams, we'll all pat them on the back and say what a job they've done."

Leicester boss Ranieri has warned his leaders to beware of Crystal Palace.

The hosts have reached the FA Cup semi-final, where they will face Watford, but Pardew's side have dropped to 15th in the Premier League.

Ranieri said: "Yes, it's very strange. When we played here it was a very difficult match, I was so happy the last time because we made the first clean sheet if you remember. Also at the end of the match I didn't say hello to Alan Pardew - I made a mistake.

"I was so happy I went to the pitch because I recognised it was a very, very difficult match to beat them. It will be the same on Saturday, it will be a very, very tough match."