"Our season starts now", announced one banner held aloft in the Holmesdale Road end after Alan Pardew, on his return to Selhurst Park, inspired Crystal Palace’s first Premier League victory since November.

But what did we learn from the Eagles’ 2-1 win over London rivals Tottenham Hotspur?

1. Pardew inspired Palace

The atmosphere at Selhurst Park felt somewhat different to many games it has hosted this season.

Was it a sense of relief that Neil Warnock had been put out of his misery? Perhaps. More plausibly, it was a sense of optimism regarding the appointment of Alan Pardew.

All associated with the club seemed to be absorbed by a positivity that had been dampened in recent months – even the programme sellers seemed to wave the match programme, which had Palace’s new boss imprinted on its front cover, with extra enthusiasm.

Selhurst Park was rocking from the off, with chants of “Alan Pardew’s red and blue army” reverberating around the ground throughout.

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Inspiration? 

What may have been most pleasing to Palace supporters was the temperament and character that their team demonstrated.

In the first 10 minutes Spurs had 75 per cent possession, but Pardew’s men remained resolute and grew into the game.

After Harry Kane gave the visitors the lead shortly after half-time, a Palace victory looked unlikely.

The Eagles refused to fold, however, and, much to the credit of the ‘Pardew Effect’, a stylish and deserved comeback was completed.

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2. Fortress Selhurst Park could be back

Last season it was Crystal Palace’s home form that kept them in the Premier League. Indeed, the success of Tony Pulis primarily stemmed from making Selhurst Park a formidable place to visit.

In contrast, before Saturday, the Eagles had picked up just eight points from a possible 27 at home in this campaign.

This record becomes even more disappointing when you consider some of the teams Palace have hosted – Sunderland, Aston Villa, Burnley, Stoke.

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Fortress Selhurst Park

Pardew will be desperate to change this theme and take advantage of the unique and powerful atmosphere that Selhurst Park can create.

The victory over Spurs was the perfect start but Pardew must ensure the home jitters that developed under Warnock are fully eradicated, especially as relegation rivals QPR, West Brom and Hull will all be making the trip to Selhurst in the second half of the season.

3. Palace will miss key absentees

Neil Warnock and Alan Pardew both talked down the significance of the absence of Mile Jedinak and Yannick Bolasie, who are both on international duty for the next month.

But the facts speak for themselves. Before the Spurs triumph, Palace had won just one of their 22 matches without their captain, and lost 12 from 16 without Bolasie.

The absence of Jedinak was most noticeable, especially during the first half. Palace looked somewhat lost without the leadership of their midfield enforcer as Mauricio Pochettino’s men piled on the pressure.

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Missed: Yannick Bolasie

Pardew will also be more content when Bolasie, representing DR Congo at the Africa Cup of Nations, returns to Selhurst Park.

Much of Palace’s attacking threat this season has been built on the 25-year-old’s power and pace.

While the winger has only netted one goal this season, he has been a menace to Palace’s oppositions and the Eagles will be all the better for his return (that is, if they manage to keep hold of him during the January transfer window).

4. Gayle is no winger 

Pardew opted to start Dwight Gayle on the wing against Tottenham and, despite the 24-year-old scoring and Palace winning, this is not a tactic he should persist with.

Gayle took the task admirably, slotting in in front of Martin Kelly when Spurs were in possession to fulfil his defensive duties. 

But he looked far from comfortable and doesn’t possess the attributes to play out wide. 

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Thinking centrally

On several times during the first half he was caught out with the visitors exploiting his defensive weakness. His crossing ability is also not up to a level expected of a Premier League winger.

Gayle does deserve a run in Palace’s first team. He learned his trade playing upfront for Dagenham & Redbridge, Bishop’s Stortford and Peterborough and has demonstrated over the past 18 months that he creates opportunities and score goals (he has eight this season).

If Palace are going to see the best of Gayle, Pardew must utilise his most potent attributes and play him in the correct position.

5. Palace have momentum

To reference the club's new manager, Pardew last week told of how Sir Alex Ferguson told him that in football "momentum is the most important thing".

Victories over Dover and Tottenham, combined with luring Pardew back to Selhurst Park, give Palace the momentum Tony Pulis began to build when he inspired safety around this time last year.