Alan Pardew
Pardew played in Palace's only other appearance in an FA Cup final in 1990. Getty Images

Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew is hopeful history does not repeat itself after the Eagles booked a repeat of 1990 FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United after bypassing Watford in the semi-final at Wembley. Connor Wickham netted the decisive winner in the second half to send Palace through to just their second ever domestic cup final.

Yannick Bolasie had put the Selhurst Park club ahead after just six minutes but Troy Deeney's header drew the Hornets level after half time. Wickham had the final word however with his sixth goal of the season to put Pardew on course for a date with destiny.

Pardew was part of the Palace side which lost to United in the final 26 years ago and now leads the club's pursuit of their first ever major trophy. The 54-year-old insists his side are underdogs against the 11-time winners but believes they have the capacity to stage a shock.

"The 1990 run got a couple of mentions [this week]," said Pardew. "We paid homage to that final with the flicked on corner that we talked about and sometimes history does repeat itself. It was a well constructed goal, Steve Coppell can take a little bit of credit for that.

"We can enjoy the cup final. We're playing against a team which if you look at them now potentially that could be a great team. I am pleased for Louis [van Gaal]. They are the biggest club in the world, it is a tough task for us. The game plan will be different but we can still deliver it. We buy into the game pan that we have and we have got players that can hurt any team.

"I am hoping destiny isn't the same result. It is almost identical scenarios for the managers. This is a different team, a different spirit from the team in 1990. The characteristics are similar. We had conviction, good defenders and a little bit of pace on the attack. Man United will be a difficult game in the final, they'll be favourites for sure and they look a lot better in this last seven eight games for sure."

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