The EFL Cup provided a welcome respite from the pressures of Premier League football for Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew this week, allowing him to give the unfit and untested an opportunity to stretch those muscles, kick a few passes about and to, crucially, win a game.
It wasn't a monumental victory. Palace defeated League 2 Blackpool with an ease that wasn't reflected by the meagre 2-0 scoreline -- but it was a win, and opened up an opportunity for the 7000 supporters that attended to see a not-too-distant future that included record-breaking £32 million signing Christian Benteke in attack, a midfield pairing of Yohan Cabaye and James McArthur in midfield, James Tomkins in defence and Steve Mandanda in goal.