Hindsight is a wonderful thing. It gives you the ability to look back and learn from your mistakes - and that is certainly what Crystal Palace fans can do with the club safe and in pursuit of a fifth Premier League victory on the bounce.

It seems apt to start this blog with a cliché, as I vividly remember proudly sculpting an article in support of the king of clichés Neil Warnock following his appointment in August. The months to follow were less than glorious for Palace, as we slumped to a number of spineless defeats and disappointing draws under his tenure. It took Steve Parish and co until Boxing Day to realise their mistake, a time in which most of us thought it was too late having recorded just one win in 12.

The damage Warnock was doing to the club is somewhat frightening looking back. Ignoring the dismal performances on the pitch, the soul of the club was sucked out, the fans had lost their edge and the squad had become dysfunctional.

We had Croydon-boy Jason Puncheon not enjoying life back at the club, Wilfried Zaha struggling to rekindle the form we all knew he had in him and Julian Speroni struggling for confidence. All have been revitalised under Alan Pardew and will no doubt be in contention for the end of season player of the year awards.

However, for me, Warnock’s greatest mistake was his complete disregard for man of the moment Glenn Murray. The answer to Palace’s problem was right under our noses and everyone involved with the club could see it except for Warnock. It comes as no surprise that during his absence on loan with Championship Reading we managed just three wins from a possible 17.

It was particularly unforgiveable from an emotional perspective, as the fans’ favourite player was deprived of playing for Palace for the majority of the season. Not only would he have earned us more points, but should also be closer if not already there, to the total of 53 league goals he managed at Brighton. With just six games remaining this season and a new striker surely to join in the summer, we may not see the day thanks to Warnock’s incompetence.

You have to give credit where it is due to Parish and the board for having the courage to put Warnock to the sword, despite hiring him only four months earlier. Many would rather protect their egos and let the rot continue rather than admit making a mistake.

Instead, we find ourselves counting our lucky stars as we enter arguably the greatest point in the club’s recent history with Pardew performing miracles and seemingly in it for the long run.

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