BIG SAM FACING UP TO A REAL CHALLENGE
SAM ALLARDYCE is not the kind of manager to let a point away from home go unappreciated. But the manner in which Crystal Palace surrendered control of this game will have told him much about the task he faces on his return to the Premier League. One of the challenges Allardyce faced during his 67 days in charge of England was to imbue some mental toughness in his players. Back in club football at Palace, meanwhile, it appears he faces a similar job. Firstly, however, there was controversy to deal with. Wilfried Zaha was booked by Mark Clattenburg late on for what the ref thought was a dive. Watford mascot Harry the Hornet followed this up at full-time by throwing himself dramatically at the feet of the Palace winger, who was not amused and had to be manhandled away. Allardyce believed Zaha should have been awarded a penalty and claimed the mascot was ‘out of order’. Beneath it all, he will have recognised some plain truths of football. The main one being his team had command of this game for all of the first half and only have themselves to blame for letting it slip away. Allardyce’s new team were cruising. A goal ahead after Andros Townsend had assisted Yohan Cabaye, they were then awarded a penalty when Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes tripped Christian Benteke. Another goal and Palace would probably have strolled to only their second win in 11 games. But Benteke’s penalty was weak and Gomes saved. Predictably, Watford pushed Palace back and were gifted an equaliser when Damien Delaney wrestled Sebastian Prodl at a corner and Troy Deeney smashed the penalty down the middle. Clattenburg was technically correct to give it, but other officials might have turned a blind eye. Allardyce has other issues to contend with, however. He will be concerned his team ceded control far too easily. There is a lack of durability about them that he will need to address. ‘The bottom line is that we made this difficult for ourselves. We should have won the game,’ he said. As for Benteke’s costly miss, Allardyce will decide this week if the striker will remain as his No 1 penalty taker. ‘I’ll wait and see on the penalties,’ he said. ‘Missing two out of three is not very good. He’s disappointed missing it. We have to find somebody who scores them like Mark Noble at West Ham. It was a massive turning point in the game.’