If you go back just five years to the 2009/10 season Crystal Palace were plunged into a relegation dogfight after going into administration, and there was a real possibility that the Eagles could of ended up in the third tier of English football.

Of course they avoided relegation to League One following a final day 2-2 draw away at Sheffield Wednesday, which saw the Yorkshire based club go down at Palace's expense. But fast forward just five years and Palace are a Premier League club and good enough, according to manager Alan Pardew, to go "toe to heel" with Arsenal.

A far cry from the days that saw Alan Lee lead the line and Darren Ambrose as the top goalscorer at the club, it is true the Eagles have come a long way in that time and promotion to the Premier League in the 2012/13 season has transformed the club.

From a side who always got relegated and didn't come back up for way too long, to a side capable of holding their own in the top flight, there has been some managerial casualties along the way, such as Neil Warnock and Ian Hollaway, who both struggled as they found they were out of their depth.

But the work of first Tony Pulis in their first season back in the top flight since relegation in 2004/05 secured the club, and from there under the stewardship of Pardew's flair and attacking prowess, has been added to the Palace cause adding a real excitement at the club.

There is a real optimism round the club, and Pardew has won 13 of his 23 games in charge so far, coupled with the great business Steve Parish has done this summer with the acquisitions of Yohan Cabaye and Connor Wickham.

But is too much being expected from Palace and Pardew? After all, it is only their third season back in the Premier League, and the squad has seen a mass overhaul this summer with no fewer than seven new arrivals with nine players going through the exit door. There is a fresh feel about the squad and it will take time for players like Bakary Sako, Patrick Bamford and Wickham to find their feet at Selhurst Park.

It won't it all happen in an instant, though. It will take time, and the Eagles may well endure a slow start because of that. But that is not to say that there isn't reason to be optimistic.

However, it is important expectations aren't too high as, at the moment, it does look as though Palace could well struggle at Selhurst Park and may well enjoy it on the road more. The make up of Pardew's team is far more suited to counter attacking football rather than controlling and dominating matches, and Cabaye can help with that - but he can only do so much.

The facts do indeed support this, with 10 home defeats last season, and the Eagles won si games in a row on their travels at the back end of last season, too.

This weekend's home encounter with Aston Villa could tell us a lot more than most would think, and it could even lift expectations higher than they already are.

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