Alan Pardew was thrilled with the character Crystal Palace showed during their win at Stoke

Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew watched his side pull off a valiant 2-1 victory at Stoke and then described them as one of the best teams he has managed in terms of character.

And Pardew thinks Palace have virtually secured their Premier League status for another season after reaching 36 points with this victory.

Palace were under the cosh at various times in the game against a lively Stoke side but, having fallen behind in the 14th minute, they hit back to lead thanks to a Glenn Murray penalty and a Wilfried Zaha strike, both coming just before half-time.

And they then kept Stoke at bay after the break, with goalkeeper Julian Speroni and his defenders in fine form.

Pardew said: “This was a really big victory, because Stoke were terrific today. We really had to dig deep.

“It was character more than anything that got us the win here today. This is one of the best teams I have managed for that, in terms of that credential. Fantastic character, to win that.

I am absolutely overjoyed for the players, because they have worked really hard today. Some of the things we tried to do did not really come off, so we had to dig deep and come up with different ideas and solutions, which we managed to do.

“And at the start of the second-half, we should have got a third. (We had) two or three really good chances.

“I am absolutely overjoyed for the players, because they have worked really hard today. Some of the things we tried to do did not really come off, so we had to dig deep and come up with different ideas and solutions, which we managed to do.

“We have had a tremendous record away from home and this is another victory.”

Palace are up to 11th in the table and Pardew added: “36 points is us done really, with eight to go, so I am really, really pleased.

“It’s not enough but, with eight games, and the way we are playing, you would expect us to comfortably be there.

“It is always dangerous for a manager to say that but we are really playing well.

“It was a really tough game to win. We needed our goalie to play well, our centre-forward to play well, and we needed to get a grip in wide areas, which we did in the second half.”

Murray really smashed his penalty into the back of the net and Pardew said: “It was emphatic and he is in great form.

“I think he has been waiting for this opportunity in the Premier League. He has shown quality through the divisions in his career, and never really had this opportunity, and now he is putting a marker down to say, ‘I was good enough all along’.

“It is good news for me and good news for Palace.”

The penalty incident was contentious and, while Pardew had no definite opinion on whether it was correctly awarded, he agreed it was a turning point in the match.

“I was not sure,” he said. “I did not really see it. I was pleased though, because we were not particularly great up until that period, and that sparked us back to life.”