Pardew’s ‘stop Payet’ plan easier said than done

Palace boss Alan Pardew is running scared of Dimi Payet – or more accurately – his free kicks.

And the former Irons boss has told his team to make sure they concede no set pieces against the deadly Hammers hero anywhere near goal.

Dimi’s conversion rate from free kicks to goals is around 50 per cent this season and again showed what he’s all about with a 37 yards stunner for France against Russia on Tuesday.

It seems a bit like stating the obvious but Pardew declared: ““That is a big part of our defensive work not to give away any silly free-kicks, staying on your feet, working on your feet.

“It’s easier said than done — Lanzini running in behind and their type of players, they draw fouls. They’ve got players who take people on so you get these free-kick situations.

“His accuracy at the moment is [such that] from 30 yards he seems to be very able to score. That’s difficult. The free-kick he hit at Man United and the one for France cleared the wall by about six, seven, eight feet. It still found its way into the net. Amazing.

“He has this super-confidence at the minute — or uber-confidence to use a new word. We need to be on our guard against him.”