Kelly: Allardyce’s focus on tight defence is paying off

Following Crystal Palace’s vital 3-0 win over Arsenal this week, Eagles defender Martin Kelly has highlighted the importance of keeping a clean sheet and how Palace have to focus on the basics.

The 26-year-old also gave an insight into how manager Sam Allardyce had been keen to tighten the Palace backline right from his arrival at Selhurst Park late last year.

Kelly made ten successful clearances in Monday night’s game against the Gunners, the most from any player on the pitch.

“I think the basics the manager always goes on about in the meetings is having its effect now, he’s drilled the basics into us from when he came in,” Kelly said.

(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

“I think us doing that on a game-to-game basis and then letting our flair players as such, do their thing is working at the minute.

“We want to get as many [points] as possible, a team like Palace with the signings the chairman, previous manager and Sam [Allardyce] has brought in, we shouldn’t be in the relegation battle.

“We know that the Premier League is a tough one, so we want to win as many as possible and certainly get the clean sheets. That’s what the manager has been trying to drill in to us.”