Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew plays down talk of qualifying for Europe

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew has distanced himself from suggestions that the team could qualify for Europe this season.

The Eagles are currently sixth in the Premier League table, three points off a Europa League spot and six points adrift of a Champions League place.

Last year, Palace ended the campaign in 10th spot, but Pardew is not thinking too far ahead with regards to the team's targets.

"This has been a fantastic [calendar] year for us - 2015," Sky Sports News quotes Pardew as saying. "If we can match this year I will be really happy. If we match this year [in 2016] I think we can end up in the top six.

"Let's cement ourselves in sixth. If we win, we are sixth - one hurdle at a time, but we are a long way from European football. Let's talk in March."

Palace will take on Southampton at Selhurst Park on Saturday.