Alan Pardew admits Yannick Bolasie goal was stolen from Steve Coppell in the 1990 semi-final

Pardew scored a similar goal to Bolasie's opener in the 1990 FA Cup semi-final

(Getty)

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew will hope that history doesn't repeat itself in the FA Cup final - even though he admitted it did so in the semi-final win over Watford.

Pardew was a Palace player when the side last reached the showpiece in 1990, also against Manchester United. Now, 26 years later and manager, Pardew will again face United in the FA Cup final.

His hair had been blonde rather than the grey it is today when he nodded home an extra-time winner against Liverpool for Steve Coppell's team to reach the old Wembley Stadium and Pardew admitted his former manager had a part to play in the win today.

Palace scored a near-identical goal to his after just six minutes against the Hornets, Yannick Bolasie heading home from close-range after Damien Delaney's near-post flick.

"The 1990 semi got a couple of mentions in the build-up," Pardew admitted after the 2-1 win. "We did pay homage to that with the flicked on corner - sometimes history does repeat itself. It was a well taken goal, Steve Coppell can take some credit for it."

Palace were deserved winners, Connor Wickham scoring the winner after Watford captain Troy Deeney had equalised.

Pardew added: "I thought the team were very focused. We had a game plan that the players carried out to the letter; it's all good talking about the psychology of it - playing the game and not the occasion - but we still had to do it and the players were brilliant, there were some outstanding performances."

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Asked if there was some destiny about the rematch, he said: "I hope the destiny isn't the same result. This is a different team, but there are some similar characteristics. Manchester United will have a difficult game in the final."

His opposite number Quique Sanchez Flores lamented his team's terrible start but was impressed with the way his side reacted. The Spaniard said he had also been left confused about reports linking him with a move away from Watford at the end of the season.

"We were not expecting to concede from a set-piece in first five minutes. One player forgot to mark, but that's football," he said. "In the second half we played with more spirit but congratulations to Crystal Palace."

On his future, he said: "I don't understand what happened this week, talking about the coach ahead of a semi-final. [It's] time to talk about players, club, fans, not time to talk about the manager. I don't understand.

"People are working with me, on my side. I am sad [about the speculation] during the week, I don't understand the need to talk about me.

"We are happy as a squad, me, everyone. The future of Watford is safe. If the club want to talk with me, I am open. It's not necessary to talk about me."