May 15 2017

Sam Allardyce

Robert Smith looks back on the vital victory against Hull City, and where Palace need to look in order to strengthen next season.

Crystal Palace sent Hull down to the Championship by walloping them 4-0 last weekend and the win saw them move seven points clear of Marco Silva's side.

When Sam Allardyce took over these two were neck and neck in the relegation zone and Palace fans feared the worst.

Now the Eagles can look forward to another season in the top flight while Hull, Middlesbrough and Sunderland supporters confront the agony of relegation.

It could all have been so different, but the Palace board took a gamble on Allardyce and it ultimately paid off. His tactical changes have made the team more compact and his January signings helped keep the club in the Premiership.

General improvements behind the scenes and an overhaul of training sessions to make the players fitter have also contributed to the survival.

Initially Big Sam struggled, and pessimism abounded after they lost 4-0 against bottom club Sunderland on February 4. It deepened when they lost to Stoke in their next game. But Allardyce then grabbed the team by the scruff of the neck and they finally found some defensive solidity.

That is exactly what the former Bolton, West Ham and Sunderland manager was brought in to do – add some steel to the finesse Alan Pardew had fostered – and Palace started winning. They beat Middlesbrough, Watford and West Brom to nil and moved out of the relegation zone.

It may not have been as easy on the eye as the football played at the height of Pardew’s reign, but few cared as points were what mattered.

Then came the highlight of the season, a 2-1 victory over Chelsea, who have gone on to win the league at a canter, losing just five games in the process. You can read BetDSI review and check their soccer odds, and you will see that Chelsea are odds-on favourites to win the FA Cup and complete the double, so beating them was a sensational achievement.

Palace also battered Arsenal in April for a 3-0 win, drew 2-2 with champions Leicester and beat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield. Three consecutive defeats followed but Palace made sure of safety in style by thrashing Hull.

Luka Milivojevic has proved to be an inspired signing as he brought bite to a midfield that had looked particularly lightweight after Mile Jedinak’s departure.

Yohann Cabaye has plenty of craft and guile, but Allardyce knew they needed someone to put his foot in and win the ball.

Loan signing Mamadou Sakho transformed the team’s defensive performances as he emerged as a colossus at the back. He has provided leadership, and the energy of Jeffrey Schlupp also helped.

Another crucial change Allardyce made was a tactical one. Under Pardew last season Palace were solid but a little dull, so this time around he had full-backs bombing up the pitch to give them width while there was no holding midfielder to make up the numbers at the back, leaving them horribly exposed on the counter-attack.

Allardyce had his full-backs sit back much further and play with more caution, and Palace instantly became a lot more difficult to break down. They became less preoccupied with having possession of the ball and became more disciplined. Allardyce ensured Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend played closer to Christian Benteke, so he was less isolated, and they reaped the rewards.

The mentality of the players seems to have shifted too. The defenders have seemed more confident about their ability to keep a clean sheet, and he has got the best out of Townsend, who had lost his way under Pardew but made a real impact under Allardyce on the home straight of the season.

More inspired summer signings from Allardyce – keeping Sakho on a permanent basis would be huge – and a continuation of the improvement in mentality could ensure Palace secure a top half finish and push for a European place next season.