Allardyce: We lost our way with winning formation

Crystal Palace boss Sam Allardyce admits that he must turn around his side’s fortunes quickly – after a morale-crushing 4-0 defeat at home to Sunderland.

The Eagles endured a fifth straight home Premier League loss, crashing down to 19th place in the Premier League table, and now only above the Black Cats on goal difference.

Against former club Sunderland, Allardyce stuck with the formation which finally ended his long wait for a first league win in charge of Palace, away to Bournemouth last midweek.

“We played a very good game with that system at Bournemouth and then completely lost the way we should have played with that system here at home,” said Allardyce.

“I had to change it to help the players get better, but they have to do that themselves within that system because the way they performed in the first half just wasn’t good enough.

“In the second half, we showed a bit of fighting spirit and tried to get back in the game, but Sunderland had been gifted four goals and could just sit back and frustrate us.

“It’s a very disappointing day for us all and it’s my responsibility as manager that I turn it around as quick as possible.”

He added: “Our home form tells the story of that fear by us being bottom of the league in home points gained, whereas away we’re ninth.

“We have to overcome the fears that we have playing at home – I don’t know why they’re there but I have to help them out.

“It’s not down the fans, they don’t put them under a huge amount of pressure compared to other clubs that I’ve managed; they want to support them but we have to give them something to get behind.

“I apologise for what they saw in that first half.”

The fans who remained to the final whistle let rip at the players, and Allardyce said: “They have to accept that for the performance that they’ve given – a fan will show their approval if the team is playing well and their disapproval if they haven’t performed to the level that they expect.”

Meanwhile, a Palace supporter was arrested after he invaded the Selhurst Park pitch to confront Damien Delaney at half-time.