CRYSTAL PALACE secured a brilliant top-half finish in the Premier League last season and are well positioned to aim higher this time round. They can even be considered dark horses to claim a European spot.

It’s a stark contrast from expectations just seven months ago when it seemed as if Palace were destined for relegation under the guidance of Neil Warnock, who took over from Tony Pulis at the start of the 2014-15 campaign.

But the arrival of fan-favourite Alan Pardew in January galvanised everyone connected with the club.

The former Newcastle boss steered the south London outfit away from the drop zone and into 10th position after recording 10 wins in 18 league games in charge, with the highlights being victories over Manchester City and Liverpool.

Boosted by the news that Scott Dann has committed his long-term future to the club, Palace have strength in depth defensively and importantly January signing Pape Souare has now had his settling-in period to stake his claim of being club’s undisputed No 1 left-back.

Midfield is where fans can get excited following the arrival of international superstar Yohan Cabaye from Ligue 1 outfit Paris Saint-Germain and he will add a touch of class to what is already a talented engine room at Selhurst Park.

Too many times last season Palace came unstuck against teams who sat in and soaked up pressure before striking on the counterattack but with Cabaye now in the midfield he can provide that killer pass to unlock stubborn defences and his creativity from deep should allow the attacking trio of Yannick Bolasie, Jason Puncheon and Wilfried Zaha to thrive further up the pitch.

In the case of the latter, this upcoming season is a huge one for him in particular as he seemed lost until Pardew’s arrival and thereafter began to show the form that persuaded former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson to spend £10 million on him in 2013.

Much like most teams in England, Palace desperately need a prolific striker and while they have brought in highly rated youngster Patrick Bamford on loan from London rivals Chelsea this week, he is still largely untested at this level and will need time to settle despite a brilliant season with Middlesbrough last year.

The fixture list has been mixed for the Eagles as they face the top three from last season inside the opening month.

However, games against Norwich City and Aston Villa will serve as an indicator as to just how well Pardew’s side will fare this year.

It’s no secret that the Londoners are better equipped when playing on the road as their counterattacking style will certainly cause most teams in the league problems and if a solution is found to rectify their home form, then it could be another memorable season for the club.