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Alan Pardew has given his backing to Crystal Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni.
He was also caught out the week before when he failed to hold a free-kick from Mario Balotelli and Adam Lallana pounced to score Liverpool’s winner in the FA Cup.
“His strength is in and around his body so they are unusual mistakes, if you want to call them that,” said Pardew ahead of tomorrow’s trip to West Ham.
“If there is one person to deal with those situations, then Jules is your man. He is great technically with his hands. Like all players, he will look at himself and want to improve. He is big enough and bold enough to stand up to that criticism.”
Crystal Palace v Arsenal - player ratings
Meanwhile, Pardew says he has sympathy for West Ham manager Sam Allardyce, who has came in for criticism despite the Hammers challenging for European qualification.
Pardew encountered similar problems with supporters during his four years in charge of Newcastle.
“Sometimes it is difficult, when you have got a glass ceiling above you to break into that top four or five clubs,” he said. “Sam, like I knew at Newcastle, knows that pressure comes when you do not win games. ”
Fraizer Campbell is out for six weeks after tearing a hamstring in the 2-1 home defeat against Arsenal, joining fellow strikers Marouane Chamakh and Yaya Sanogo on the sidelines.
