Damien Delaney calls for Crystal Palace to stand up and be counted
Wednesday 4 January 2017 15:50, UK
Crystal Palace's Damien Delaney believes their 2-1 defeat by Swansea on Tuesday has demonstrated how much they are at risk of relegation.
Despite Palace's recent appointment of Sam Allardyce, a manager who has never been relegated from the Premier League, the defeat at Selhurst Park left the club just a point above the relegation zone.
Delaney believes the time has passed for 17th-placed Palace to make excuses and has demanded his team-mates come to terms with their relegation battle.
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"If anyone thought they were not in a scrap, they know now," said the 35-year-old. "It is all good saying we are too good and we are this and that.
"We are right in the middle of it now and it is time to stand up and be counted. People say the quality we have but we are way, way, way below where we should be.
"We cannot make any excuses anymore. We are in a relegation scrap for the long haul, so it is time to saddle up. He (Allardyce) has got a track record but we cannot rely on that. It is going to take hard work."
Palace were booed off by large sections of the home support at half time after conceding the opening goal to Swansea defender Alfie Mawson just three minutes before the break.
The result left Allardyce with a total of one point from three games and gave 19th-placed Swansea three vital points as new head coach Paul Clement prepares for his first game in charge on Saturday against Hull.
"It is the first time in five seasons I have been here that the fans have turned like that," the 35-year-old added. "They were within their rights to complain but in the second half they got behind us.
"It is important we keep them onside because this is going to be a long road.
"We are in a scrap now. The way to get out of it is by sticking together, digging in and working hard. Hopefully the manager can get us on the right course. We have a long stretch and a lot to work on."
Palace's next league game is against West Ham on January 14 following an FA Cup third round date with Bolton on Saturday.
