Allardyce: Palace must not be one-trick ponies

Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce is keen to see an element of unpredictability in his side’s play after their 2-1 defeat to fellow strugglers Swansea on Tuesday night.

The Eagles were booed off the Selhurst Park pitch at half-time after a lacklustre first 45 minute display, in which Alfie Mawson had given the visitors the lead.

Palace restored parity after the break courtesy of Wilfried Zaha’s superb strike, but Swansea edged the three points with a late winner from Angel Rangel to leave Allardyce’s side languishing just one point above the relegation zone.

And Allardyce, who took over the reins in South London last month, has already started to note a pattern in his team’s attacking play, one he is eager to see disappear as they look to turn their fortunes around.

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

“We ended up looking like a one trick pony by hoofing it up to [Christian] Benteke,” he said.

“Play off him is fine, but play off his chest or feet, not off his head all the time.

“We can’t keep asking him to head balls on, rather than hold up.”

The Eagles will be without both Zaha and Bakary Sako this month as they head to the African Cup of Nations with their respective international sides.

But Allardyce is optimistic their absence will not affect his side on the pitch, with new signings on the agenda in this month’s transfer window.

“With Zaha and Sako both going to the African Cup of Nations, everyone has to cope with that,” he said.

“We have to cope with that by getting players who are currently injured back fit and we have to instil more resilience and confidence in them.

“And we have to go and get new players in. Between now and the 31st of January, there will be little sleep for me, working 24/7 with players and staff to make things better as quickly as possible.”