LONDON -- Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew believes club-record signing Christian Benteke could have proved the difference in Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Tottenham.
Benteke, 25, joined Palace in a £27 million deal from Liverpool on Saturday morning -- too late to play in the Premier League match at White Hart Lane.
Victor Wanyama's late goal sealed a first win of the season for Spurs but Palace twice went close through half-time substitute Yohan Cabaye before the Kenyan's 82nd-minute header.
Pardew lamented Palace's failure to score but said Benteke's ability to "pull a rabbit out of a hat" could be decisive in the future games.