The best result of Patrick Vieira’s managerial career? Eagles boss doesn’t answer supply an answer

Patrick Vieira stayed grounded despite his Crystal Palace side boosting hopes they could lift the FA Cup this year with a 4-0 thrashing of Everton.

The result confirmed the Eagles’ place in the last four of the competition and a Wembley semi-final.

Palace will find out their opponents at 5.30pm, the draw taking place before Nottingham Forest’s tie against Liverpool.

But Vieira did not answer directly when asked if the result – which takes the Eagles back to the national stadium for the first time since 2016 – is his best day as a manager.

Instead he told ITV Sport: “It is a win and going to Wembley is fantastic. You could hear the atmosphere in the stadium – the fans – this is what they wanted and we wanted to do it as well for them because this year they have been fantastic behind the team and giving us the support we need to perform.

“It was a really good day for the football club. We performed well as a team and we went through a difficult period in the game, particularly the first 15 to 20 minutes but we didn’t concede and that allowed us to come into it.

“Once we scored that first goal we started to believe more.

“The crucial time was the first 15 minutes because they were on top of us and they had momentum. We showed maturity because we went longer and managed to play off the second ball. We started to get into the game.

“But it is just a step forward. There is still a long way to go because now we are in the semi-final, it is an exciting time, and we will enjoy it. We will enjoy today – it is good for the fans, it is good for the club and it is good for the players. But, again, it is just one step forward.”

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD