Wednesday 18 January 2017 08:43, UK
Sam Allardyce has urged Crystal Palace to build on their 2-1 FA Cup defeat of Bolton by securing a season-changing victory when they host Everton in the Premier League on Saturday.
Two goals in nine minutes from substitute Christian Benteke secured Allardyce's first win as Palace manager at the sixth attempt, earned a fourth-round tie at home to Manchester City, and perhaps more importantly ended a run of eight games without victory.
They remain above the Premier League's bottom three only on goal difference, but after James Henry's long-range, second-half finish had threatened a new low, Allardyce recognises their comeback has presented the opportunity to transform their season.
"Wins grow confidence," said the 62-year-old after Tuesday night's win at Selhurst Park. "No doubt about that. How much confidence we get from this game will show on Saturday.
"The big test is getting a result against Everton, which would grow the confidence. A result, a win, would be fantastic.
"I need the players to play better. Not just these players, but those who played last Saturday. I need them at their top form and to stay there for a period of time, and that comes from believing in their ability, going to watch videos from 2015 when they went fifth in the Premier League.
"Let that bring them confidence and go out with a positive attitude and play like that again. We need that from every member better now and the end of the season.
"Two quality goals won it for us in the end, two very good goals. When I saw Bolton's 'worldie' go in I wondered how many more we're going to get against us: (Olivier) Giroud, (Andy) Carroll and now Henry with his bad foot.
"It has been a while for me. The disappointing thing for me is that big win should have been Watford (drawing 1-1 on Boxing Day in Allardyce's first game), and look at the cost of it.
"If we'd put that in, it would have been a very nice start for us, and me particularly. It didn't look too bad at the time, but it does now doesn't it?"
Allardyce also insisted Palace had made no progress in their £7m pursuit of Carl Jenkinson, despite Arsenal accepting their offer for the full-back, before revealing he hopes to recruit another new player to follow Jeffrey Schlupp in "the next 48 hours".
