FEATHERS FLY FOR EAGLES
Mamadou shines on debut to help Palace out of drop zone
SAM ALLARDYCE welcomed a postmatch bust-up between Christian Benteke and Andros Towsend – and is set to reward his Palace players with a week in the sun. The Belgium striker was furious late in the game when the England winger shot wide instead of crossing. And Boro keeper Victor Valdes had to separate the feuding pair at fulltime as the row rumbled on (left).
But Big Sam said: “It’s very good, because he (Benteke) loves scoring goals. He’s put a lot of work in as well.”
Palace pulled the plug on a planned training camp in Dubai after the 4-0 home thrashing by Sunderland earlier this month.
But with the March 11 match with Tottenham now rescheduled because of the FA Cup, Allardyce said: “We’ll have a look at that now this week.
“The weather’s so poor here. Since 2001, in the Premier League – apart from with Newcastle because I got sacked before I could take them away – I’ve taken every team away for a warm-weather break. It’s worked for me, so we’ll see where we can go.”
CHRISTIAN BENTEKE backed Mamadou Sakho to save Crystal Palace from the drop after his faultless debut helped lift them out of the bottom three.
The Eagles’ on-loan Liverpool defender had not played since April last year following his aborted drug ban and then falling out of favour at Anfield.
But Sakho added calm authority to the Palace rearguard on his comeback as they avoided a sixth consecutive home defeat against a lacklustre Middlesbrough – and finally looked like a Sam Allardyce side.
Striker Benteke said: “I am very happy for Mamad. He has come back from a big setback. It was a big first match for him and he had it in his heart to help us out of the drop zone.
“He has really helped us. He had to deal with his return and it went really well. I think this is a really important win for us.
“It had been a long time since we won at home and it is a big boost for what is to come.”
Sakho, 27, who has joined Palace until the end of the season, insisted the first Premier League win at Selhurst Park since December 3 was a team effort.
“We had some meetings together to change what wasn’t working,” said the France star.
“You can say that this little break did us good – we didn’t have a match last weekend. We bonded, worked together and talked a lot and I think this match was very, very positive.
“And physically, I feel really good. I have not played for 10 months, but I am someone who stays professional, works enormously hard.
“And I am really proud to be involved in this victory. “The most important thing for me was to get back on the pitch and rediscover the pleasure of playing football, especially when I always have this awareness that I can make a living from my passion.” Eagles boss Allardyce took a risk in his pre-match press conference by criticising his players for not heeding his instructions.
“Well it got across today, didn’t it?” said keeper Wayne Hennessey. “I thought we were fantastic. That was the best we have played under him.”
Palace now have the Allardyce feel with a big keeper, new centre-backs, Serbian Luka Milivojevic patrolling the midfield and Benteke the targetman down the spine of the side. It is a formula which has never seen him relegated.
The winning goal after 34 minutes came from Patrick van Aanholt (celebrating with Yohan Cabaye, left), the January signing from Sunderland where Big Sam avoided the drop last season.
And the former England chief said: “It’s two totally different football clubs, and if I can make any comparison it’s what Pat and Sakho brought to the team today. That bit more quality.”