Crystal Palace prepare for FA Cup final against Manchester United with team photo... but why are only the front row wearing ties?

• Crystal Palace face Manchester United in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday afternoon 
• Alan Pardew's men prepared for their showdown with the Red Devils by posing for a squad picture on Friday 
• The picture saw only the front row of players and manager Pardew wearing a tie, with the rest open collar

Crystal Palace's players were all smiles on Friday as they posed for a team picture ahead of their FA Cup final with Manchester United.

But ahead of Saturday afternoon's Wembley showdown, Alan Pardew's men raised one interesting question with their squad portrait - why are the players in the front row the only ones wearing ties? 

Palace's preparations for the game continued at their training base on Friday with Pardew joining the likes of Yohan Cabaye, Wilfried Zaha and Wayne Hennessey in the team snap. 

Crystal Palace pose for a team picture ahead of the FA Cup final. Unusually, only the front row wore ties with the rest open collar (Back row: Mile Jedinak, Connor Wickham, Brede Hangeland, Jordon Mutch, Wilfried Zaha, Jason Puncheon; Middle row: Alex McCarthy, Frazier Campbell, Joel Ward, Damien Delaney, Scott Dann, Bakary Sako, Yannick Bolasie, Emmanuel Adeybaor, Lee Chung-yong; Front row: James McArthur, Wayne Hennessey, Dwight Gayle, Martin Kelly, Alan Pardew, Keith Millen, Pape Souare, Yohan Cabaye, Adrian Mariappa, Julian Speroni

Palace boss Pardew will be desperate for his team to win at Wembley and bring some silverware back to Selhurst Park

Pardew goes head-to-head with Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal. The Duthcman knows he is under pressure to win the trophy

Unusually, the picture saw Palace's boss Pardew, assistant Keith Millen and other players on the front row wearing ties. In contrast, the back two rows - featuring the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor, Jordon Mutch, Damien Delaney and Brede Hangeland - were open collar. 

It certainly made for a picture with a difference, Palace changing away from the norm for their first FA Cup final since 1990.  

The Eagles will undoubtedly go into the game with Louis van Gaal's men as underdogs. 

United may have had an inconsistent season but with their Dutch boss well aware of the need to end the season with a trophy, Pardew knows his team are in for a tough 90 minutes. 

Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, a former Manchester United player, will be among the Eagles looking to cause damage to United's defence

On the challenge of facing United, Pardew said: 'They keep the ball really well. We're going to have to be patient at times.

'We are going to be the side that needs to fight that bit harder to win, I don't think there's any doubt about that.

'We have got areas of the pitch where I think we're slightly superior and we've got to make those areas count.'

When he refers to certain areas of the pitch where his team could have an advantage, Pardew might be talking about his wingers.

In former Manchester United man Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie, Palace have quick, attacking players capable of hurting United in defensive areas. 

Alongside Zaha, flying winger Yannick Bolasie is another Palace player Pardew will be hoping turns on the style at Wembley