Stoke boss Tony Pulis says West Ham's Sam Allardyce deserves more credit

Tony Pulis has hailed Sam Allardyce for the wonderful job he has done at West Ham United ahead of Monday's meeting at Upton Park.

Successful

Allardyce also got Bolton promoted from the second tier in 2001 and he subsequently guided the Trotters to consistent top-10 top-flight finishes, a League Cup final and into Europe, before departing in 2007. After a brief spell with Newcastle, he then took charge at Blackburn, who he steered away from the relegation zone in his first season and then up to 10th in his second before being sacked by Rovers owners Venky's. "He has been a very successful manager and maybe at times he doesn't get the praise he deserves," Pulis said. "They must be absolutely doing somersaults at West Ham at the moment, and he deserves a hell of a lot of credit for that. "I think the important thing as a football manager is that you play to your strengths and according to what you have got. "You would have to ask Sam what he thinks of the criticism he gets, but the one thing I do know is that he gets results. "Look at when he was at Bolton and look at Bolton now (they were relegated to the Championship last season). "They were finishing in the top 10 in the Premier League year after year. The fella knows what he is doing."