PALACE boss Alan Pardew hailed his players for their stunning comeback at Burnley last Saturday, praising Jason Puncheon in particular for his display at Turf Moor.
The winger looks a revitalised man under the new manager and played a big part in the Eagles' victory, grabbing an equaliser early in the second half.
Pardew also had kind words for match-winner Dwight Gayle, whose 87th-minute strike sealed the three points.
"Dwight just seems a very uncomplicated player, he is very straightforward in his work," said the boss.
"He is quick, good in the air, has a good attitude, and all he needs is experience and to grow in his own confidence.
"When I had Jason Puncheon at Southampton, he wasn't the player he is today.
"Because he has played in the Premier League, he has that inner confidence he can play at this level and that is what players like Dwight need to find.
"I thought Jason was the best player on the pitch by a country mile. He had time to put his foot on the ball, got a great goal and set up the third.
"It was unbelievable to come back like that in any Premier League match, particularly away from home.
"We showed our quality with our offensive players, who helped to change the match, and we were worth the victory.
"We had to show tremendous qualities, not just fighting spirit and resilience."
After a scrappy opening ten minutes, Palace were hit with a double blow in the space of four minutes as the hosts took a 2-0 lead.
As Damien Delaney headed clear twice after a free-kick, Danny Ings fired a shot at goal, only for the ball to strike Scott Dann before Julian Speroni clawed it away for a corner.
The dead-ball effort was whipped in to the far post over the stopper and there was Burnley defender Ben Mee to get in front of Joe Ledley and head in.
The second came in very unfortunate circumstances. As Joel Ward looked to shield the ball out on the far touchline, Scott Arfield nipped in, but then fouled Ward off the pitch to get the run at the loose ball. Referee Phil Dowd did not see anything wrong, as Arfield stormed on and found Ings running through the middle before slotting past Speroni.
Palace were all over the place, but luckily they notched the third goal when Gayle grabbed one back before the break.
Wilfried Zaha, who started the contest on the left, had switched to the right – and it was through his good work that Gayle capitalised.
Zaha's cross found James McArthur unmarked in front of goal but the Scotsman was denied, before the ball came out to Gayle, who smashed home.
Minutes into the second half Palace were level.
Puncheon, on the edge of the box, fired home into the bottom corner with his right foot to send the travelling Eagles fans crazy.
Then, for the next 15 minutes or so, the goalmouth action at either end dried up, with both sides battling for possession.
Palace had McArthur to thank when he cleared a goal-bound shot off the line from Michael Keane, before Glenn Murray came on for Sanogo.
And the forward went extremely close to winning it when Ledley's flick-on fell to the striker, and he volleyed against the post with Heaton beaten.
But then Murray made up for it when he played a big part in what turned out to be a dramatic winner for the Eagles.
After Puncheon played a crossfield ball towards him, he dummied and let the ball run to Gayle on the left side of the box, and the striker took one touch and buried a left-footed shot past Heaton to claim the points.
