Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira sends complacency warning ahead of Everton FA Cup clash

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira says his side will have to continue fighting for each other if they are to keep picking up results like against Manchester City.

The Eagles produced a strong performance to hold the champions to a stalemate at Selhurst Park.

The result is the second clean sheet the Eagles have kept against City this season, having beaten them 2-0 at the Etihad.

The Eagles’ performance against the champions was particularly impressive as it followed up their 2-0 win against Wolves, and the two results ended any fears of a relegation battle in Patrick Vieira’s first season at the club.

The South London-based club are now 11th in the league table far away from any relegation scuffle, and looking to go to Wembley for the first time since 2016.

But their manager, who was visibly excited by their output against Pep Guardiola’s men, praised his players but warned they had to continue giving it their all if they were to continue punching above their weight.

The Palace boss said: “We need performances like these from everyone from starting from the goalkeeper through to JP [Mateta] who played on top and later when Wilf [Zaha] went on top.

“They ran a lot and they ran for each other and we played for each other and we showed that we were improving as a team.

“One of the challenges was to accept that we were not going to have the ball and once we are doing this we will grow as a team which pleases me a lot.

“This is a big result for us and the FA Cup is a massive cup for us and going into the game on the back of massive performances like this will help but we need to prepare well for that and continue to be there for each other, we have to always be ready.”

The FA Cup against Everton on Sunday

The game against Everton is perhaps the biggest in the club’s season with a chance to go to Wembley, and the south London side could not have prepared any better for it.

They beat Stoke City 2-1 to progress to the quarter-finals and were handed a draw against Everton who have a new manager on a rescue mission.

Frank Lampard’s side are fighting for their lives in the Premier League and will arrive at Selhurst having been battered by Tottenham, losing narrowly to Wolves at home and playing against a resurgent Newcastle United side.

Not many would have painted this picture of Crystal Palace being favourites going into an FA Cup quarter final game, but the stars have aligned and much of that is down to the magnificent job Vieira has done so far.