Paul Hart believes if his Crystal Palace players can perform for the rest of the season like they did against Cardiff City on Saturday then they will escape relegation.

The Eagles lost the game 2-1 but left the field to a standing ovation having dominated large parts of the match without being able to find an equaliser after Chris Burke put Cardiff ahead for a second time.

Sheffield Wednesday and Watford both picked up a point at the weekend while Scunthorpe United beat Sheffield United, leaving Palace four points away from safety.

Hart though still thinks they will be in the Championship next season.

"I thought it was a magnificent performance," he said.

"We have seven games to go and if we can play like that we will win football matches.

"We are patching players up and sending them out and we have kids that we are having to put on.

"There is no smoke and mirrors - we are what people see.

"We are carrying injuries but we have some great professionals.

"The supporters recognise that everybody associated with this football club are having a real go."

Palace switched from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2 on Saturday and Hart was full of praise for the way his squad is continuing to play despite the problems they face on and off the field.

"I think this is a really good club and there are a lot of players that have been here a long time," he said.

"They want the best for this club.

"There are a lot of players out of contract who do not know where they will be next year but you would never know that - they have put things to one side and are getting on with it.

"We have changed our system and we have had to work at it.

"There are some set pieces we have been working on too and that got us a goal.

"We just have to keep going and prepare the same.

"We do not take chances and we do not let things pass us by.

"We are proud and we will keep going."