Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Sam Allardyce is still searching for his first Premier League win since taking charge of Crystal Palace. A run of 5 matches without a win has seen Allardyce pick up just a solitary point and it’s that run of form which has seen Palace slip into the bottom three.
Not since a point away at Watford in Allardyce’s opening game in charge have Palace managed to put any points on the board and as bad as things were under Alan Pardew they were not quite this bad. It’s worrying times for all connected with the club and they will hope that they can turn their fortunes around when they travel to The Vitality Stadium this Evening.
Hosts Bournemouth’s form has not been all that better as of late with no win in 4 across all competitions with the 3-0 defeat to Millwall in the F.A. Cup 3rd Round being the particular low point of this current rut but they at least sit in the relative comfort of 12th place in the Premier League.
Defence has been a concern for Eddie Howe as of late, with no fewer than 11 goals conceded in that 4 match winless streak. A trio of games saw Bournemouth ship 3 goals each time and that record was only slightly bettered in the 2-2 draw at home to Watford.
The defence may have improved all that slightly or perhaps the attack once again got them out of jail but at least the draw with Watford means it’s another point on the board as they look to get to all important 40 point marker as early as possible.
A feat that they managed to succeed in doing by March last season, but once the target was subsequently achieved it’s fair to say Bournemouth’s efforts were almost non existent as they limped towards the finishing line. Perhaps a sign of the tank being empty after such great efforts to secure survival but Eddie Howe will hope that this is not the case this time around.
As for Palace they were unfortunate to concede a late Seamus Coleman winner in their last Premier League runout. With new signing Jeffrey Schlupp down with cramp the game was not stopped and with Coleman now afforded the extra space that Schlupp’s absence created he fired high into the roof net to break Palace hearts and consign them to the bottom three.
Allardyce knew the task he was undertaking was not going to be easy but if anything the task has got harder after his failure to lead his new team to victory. A run that simply cannot continue if they are to have any hope of beating the drop come May.
Can Tonight be the night though, we certainly know that Bournemouth are leaky at the back but do Palace have the threat in which to take full advantage. The partnership of Christian Benteke and Loic Remy is a new one and has not yet clicked therefore I’m not sure if Bournemouth will be put to the sword. That said I think Palace will get something from this, I’ll go for a score draw.
