Friday 23 December 2016 12:24, UK
Sam Allardyce has been backed as the right man to turn around Crystal Palace’s season.
Former Stoke City defender Danny Higginbotham told Sky Sports News HQ that the ex-England boss has the track record to help the Eagles escape relegation.
Palace chairman Steve Parish is set to hold talks with Allardyce's representatives following the sacking of Alan Pardew on Thursday.
And Higginbotham told Premier League Daily that the former Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland boss's strength is making his teams difficult to beat.
"If you look at what he did at Sunderland, he tightened them up and made them defensively stronger. He even got them scoring goals," he said.
"Crystal Palace, it's a real role reversal in comparison to last season. Last season, they were defensively strong, but struggled to score goals.
"This season, very free scoring, but they've conceded a huge amount of goals. If you look at the Swansea game, they score four goals and lost the game.
"The Hull game, they scored three goals and only drew the game.
"So, I think whoever comes in, whether that's Sam Allardyce [or someone else], will want to make them defensively stronger.
"Down at the bottom, it's all about keeping the ball out the back of your net. The team that does that best will stay up, no doubt about it."
Palace are 17th in the Premier League table with just four victories this season.
And former Newcastle United defender Steve Howey has tipped Allardyce to be a success at the south London club.
He said: "For me there's only one stand out candidate and that's Sam. His record speaks for itself, he's proven it time and time again. I think he would be a hit with the Palace fans, the players would like him."
