Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat is a big fan of Crystal Palace rival Alan Pardew.

Sunderland meet Palace this weekend.

"He is an excellent coach and they were having a hard time until he arrived.

"I have always kept an eye on him because we met once in Spain when he was Charlton manager, and they had a training camp in Marbella. He is a nice man. I like him, and I have followed him since then."