Crystal Palace boss Steve Coppell has thanked chairman Ron Noades for the most cherished Christmas present of all – his job. Coppell emerged from one of his blackest spells as a manager when Palace defeated Leeds 1-0 to record their fourth successive win to claw them closer to Everton in the relegation dogfight. But he admitted there were moments of self-doubt with Palace seeming destined for relegation, “There were doubts whether I was the right man to get Palace out of trouble and I said so. But it wasn’t an invitation to sack me. Luckily Ron showed faith in me as he has all along and I am grateful for that.”

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