SAINTS boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has given a positive assessment of Crystal Palace under new head coach Patrick Vieira but insists their style of play “can also be an advantage”.

Premier League legend Vieira has taken his first managerial job in the spotlight after spells with New York City and Nice, replacing the experienced Roy Hodgson.

The former Arsenal invincible has had a decent start to life in London, too, converting the club’s style of play from a rigid, robust and defensive one, to an open, expansive and attacking one.

He was allowed to invest heavily during the transfer window and his signings have begun to pay off already, tenfold when you consider the performances of promising English midfielder Conor Gallagher who is on loan from Chelsea.

Despite failing to win any of their first four this campaign, they have since picked up convincing clean-sheet wins over Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and welcome Saints to Selhurst Park off the back of a 3-1 victory there at the weekend, over Everton.

Assessing his counterpart’s outfit before the visit on Wednesday, Hasenhuttl said: “After a tough start where they had a few issues, they were finding each other very quickly.

“It’s always tough for a new manager with pre-season to bring your way of playing football in the Premier League.

“But it looks more and more that the quality in every position is very flexible with every gameplan, this gives a very competitive team and is the reason why they have had some good results.

“They have also dropped a few points from winning positions which is sometimes our problem, but in total it’s an opponent who is strong.”

And on their attacking style of play, Hasenhuttl thinks he can spot a way for Saints to exploit it: “This can be also an advantage as sometimes you get more space for the counterattack, but you have to say also that their reverse gear is becoming also better.

“It was definitely a very good performance that they shown yesterday, we have to go there and not be surprised if it is a tough game to play.”