Premier League: Alan Pardew still has work to do to secure Palace's Premier League status

Alan Pardew still needs to secure Crystal Palace's Premier League status

The prodigal son has returned to Selhurst Park, but Alan Pardew's first job is to ensure Crystal Palace remain a Premier League club...

The closing hours of the transfer window may have left slim pickings for journalists, pundits and fans alike to chew the fat over so in terms of sheer numbers, there was no doubting the winter winners. Speaking on BT Sport's Monday night coverage, Robbie Savage named Crystal Palace as the team that would be happiest with their dealings, without a moment's hesitation. A few seats along the panel Simon Jordan, the former chairman of the Eagles, unsurprisingly agreed with him.

The south London club at least made deadline day a twitching duck rather than a dead one, completing four deals - including the permanent return of Wilfried Zaha, of course - to bring their January tally of signings up to eight. That's eight players, with the most crucial arrival arguably that of Alan Pardew from Newcastle. 

Putting to one side the much-needed interest that Palace injected into the day, the sense is certainly that there is a sense of optimism at Selhurst Park. Despite his compromised status for much of his time in the north-east, Pardew has clout at Palace, and there is certainly the sense there that he is an upgrade on his predecessor Neil Warnock. 

In playing terms the purchases have addressed weak points (with Pape Souar ready to plug a hole at left-back), added experience (Shola Ameobi), lent dynamism (Jordon Mutch) and been populist (with the full return of Wilfried Zaha). In this upbeat context, their price of 21/10 to win at bottom side Leicester at the weekend looks pretty generous. 

Going all in for new blood has certainly worked before for Palace. If we rewind 12 months, five players were brought in by Tony Pulis in January. Joe Ledley and Scott Dann had significant impacts, Jason Puncheon continued to thrive after joining permanently and even Tom Ince weighed in with a debut goal in a vital victory over West Bromwich Albion, in spite of his time overall at the club being underwhelming.

There is perhaps too much of a sense of ease around Palace, however. If a positive attitude is important, and 13th place looks ok, it is worth recalling that they are still only four points clear of third-bottom Hull City, who currently occupy the final relegation place. There is the feeling too that, if not quite too good to go down, they should have enough dross around them to be alight. 

This is a dangerous way of thinking. Saturday's defeat at home to Everton (Pardew's first since arriving) has almost been dismissed as a disappointment rather than a genuine blow, but it was more than an inconvenience. Palace's sleepy start did for them against opponents lacking confidence. Despite Everton's superior quality on paper, the hosts rarely looked inferior to Roberto Martnez's men, and Palace should have taken advantage.

Pardew's challenge is to isolate this as a hiccup rather than let it develop into a slide - as has become the case with Hull, who started the season promisingly and must now bitterly regret points frittered away to late goals in the season's opening weeks. Doing so against Leicester and then against Newcastle is paramount as on the other side of the FA Cup fifth round tie with Liverpool or Bolton, a difficult trio of fixtures against Arsenal, West Ham and Southampton await. 

It is a new task for the boss, who had become used to drifting in mid-table with Newcastle, certainly in terms of intensity. Pardew has the personality and the historical links with Palace to usher in a new stability at the club, which has turned over too many players and managers in the last few years. He must secure safety to be able to start building.

Palace are 5/1 to go down, outside the six favourites to take the drop but one of eight to be priced at under 10s to be relegated - there's a significant gulf between Sunderland at 6/1 and Everton at 40/1.

There is still work to do, starting on Saturday in the Midlands.