Crystal Palace defender Scott Dann has hailed the impact that Alan Pardew has had on his game as well as the fortunes of club.

The 53-year-old joined the Eagles from Newcastle United in January and has helped guide the club away from the relegation zone and into the security of mid-table.

Dann feels that Pardew's arrival has helped him reach his best as the 28-year-old has experienced an upsurge in form over the past few months at the heart of the Palace defence.

He told The Mirror: "I feel I have got better under this manager. My performances have moved on to another level and I want to keep improving.

"With a new manager, you always get a reaction, but the job he has come in and done has been really good. Perhaps that is due to him being more expansive, in terms of getting bodies forward and scoring more, but everyone is enjoying it.

"He does not really rant and rave in the dressing room, he is actually quite calm. But he gets a message across in the right way and people respect him. I think people in Newcastle might realise now that he is a bit better than they thought because we have really pushed on since he arrived."

Palace face champions Manchester City at Selhurst Park in their Premier League clash on Monday.