Alan Pardew has claimed that former Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis knew how to approach their game after West Bromwich Albion claimed a 2-0 victory at Selhurst Park.
Pulis, appointed by West Brom in January to steer them clear of relegation this season, guided Palace to safety last term before quitting on the eve of this campaign.
His arrival appears to have had the desired impact, with the Baggies moving eight points clear of trouble thanks to goals from James Morrison and Craig Gardner.
Pardew told BBC Sport after the match: "The first goal was a case of an old manager coming back and knowing the areas to exploit. We dominated the game, we had great moments without getting on the end of it.
"I can't fault the team, we just came up against a team who do very well then when they get the lead."
The loss ends Palace's run of four top-flight wins in a row.
