Football: Pardew guides Crystal Palace to 10th spot, their best finish in the Premier League

Alan Pardew guided Crystal Palace to a best-ever 10th-place finish in the Premier League thanks to a 1-0 victory over Swansea on the final day of the season on Sunday. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Alan Pardew guided Crystal Palace to a best-ever 10th-place finish in the Premier League thanks to a 1-0 victory over Swansea on the final day of the season on Sunday. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

LONDON (AFP) - Alan Pardew guided Crystal Palace to a best-ever 10th-place finish in the Premier League thanks to a 1-0 victory over Swansea on the final day of the season on Sunday.

Moroccan international Marouane Chamakh drove the ball home from inside the penalty box on 57 minutes following a scramble to provide the only goal of the match in a tight affair at Selhurst Park.

It was the former Arsenal striker's fourth goal of the season and first since January.

Palace, who picked up their ninth victory since former Newcastle handler Pardew took over in January, took their points tally to 48 and a 10th-place finish after closest rivals Everton and West Ham both lost.

There are significant financial rewards for each place gained in the final standings.

The 53-year-old Londoner, who played as a midfielder for Palace between 1987 and 1991 and memorably scored the winning goal in an FA Cup semi-final victory over Liverpool in 1990, was forced out of Newcastle just weeks after winning the Manager of the Month award in November.

His former club needed a desperate 2-0 last-day victory over West Ham to avoid relegation while Palace have been guaranteed their top-flight status for weeks.

Swansea, who have enjoyed their best season since John Toshack led them to a tally of 69 points in 1981-82, have flourished under manager Garry Monk and close out their campaign in eighth spot on 56 points.

Swansea, who became the first Welsh club to play in the Premier League since its formation in 1992 and won the 2013 League Cup under Michael Laudrup for their first major trophy, came into the match having won five of their past eight matches on the road.

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