Crystal Palace boss Pardew hails two-goal unsung hero Murray

Alan Pardew praised Crystal Palace striker Glenn Murray after his brace led the Eagles to a 3-1 Premier League victory over West Ham on Saturday afternoon.

The 31-year-old struggled for game time under former boss Neil Warnock but starred in a convincing win at Upton Park with two headers either side of a Scott Dann goal.

He was later sent off for two bookable offences, but with fellow forwards Fraizer Campbell, Yaya Sanogo and Marouane Chamakh all out injured, Pardew was full of praise for deputising Murray.

"He's got that nous as a number nine to find that space and be in the right place at the crucial time," said the manager.

"He could have had a hat-trick in the first half and, I hope he doesn't feel I'm insulting him, but he isn’t the quickest.

"Teddy [Sheringham] coaches here at West Ham and I had him as a player. He's a bit like that in creating room and chances for himself without pace. He's clever."

Murray spent time out on loan earlier in the season as former boss Warnock deemed him surplus to requirements at Selhurst Park - but Pardew had other ideas.

"We had four Championship teams that felt they had a chance of him on loan - Reading the most prominent as he has been there," he added.

"But I gave him a new contract and said 'you're going to stay here and help us get out of this situation'.

"He's been unfortunate as Fraizer came in and did brilliantly for us - so he's had to be patient but he's rewarded me in this game and I can't thank him enough - he was terrific.

"I felt sorry for him that he was sent off. It was probably my fault - I should have got Shola [Ameobi] on earlier. But it was too late."

Murray, who will now miss Tuesday's clash with Southampton through suspension, said he was guilty of a number of "stupid fouls" in the lead up to his dismissal by referee Mike Dean.

"Obviously it's great to get a couple of goals but I'm disappointed to get sent off, it was just a reaction and I think the referee was almost waiting to send me off after a few stupid fouls," he told Sky Sports.

"I gave him that option and he took it. We spoke about it at half-time - 'don't make a challenge' - and I managed not to outside the box but it was just a reaction inside the box unfortunately.

"He just said there'd been a few niggly little fouls and he'd kept having to stop the game so he'd said: 'no more'."