Alex Neil insists Alan Pardew is wasting his time trying to play mind games with Norwich City ahead of a pivotal Premier League clash at Selhurst Park.

The Crystal Palace chief has spent the build up urging his fans to whip up an intimidating atmosphere to unsettle the Canaries, but Neil is confident Norwich can handle another tense relegation occasion.

Norwich head to south London today four points clear of third-from-bottom Sunderland, and can draw level on points with the Eagles if they pick up a third consecutive Premier League win.

'We played in front of 90,000 at Wembley in the play-off final so I am pretty sure that is more intimidating than going to Selhurst Park,' he said. 'To get yourself out of any situation you might find yourself in, in football you need the players, you need the fans, everyone to pull the one way. I have done it with our fans and our players to rally everyone. It is the best way for a football club to move forward. As soon as you start dividing or fracturing or people pointing fingers then it becomes a real issue. He is doing what is right for his club. Listen, we will go there and focus on us. We are not concerned about any of that.

'I think we are used to the pressure. We have always been playing for something. We are used to being under the spotlight and we have coped with that better than many others so this game is no different to us. It might be different for them.'

Neil predicts a tense affair.

'I think it will be cagey because both teams know what is at stake,' he said. 'Palace will play the way they generally do, which is pace at the top end of the pitch and looking to hit on the counter. If we can defend as well as we have recently then I am hoping we have enough quality at the top end to give them problems.'