Football Focus

Image source, Getty Images

When Sam Allardyce was appointed as Crystal Palace manager, people expected the Eagles to soar up the Premier League. It has not happened.

"The problem is a lot deeper than I expected it to be," Allardyce told Football Focus. "It has gone on for a considerable amount of time. 

"They became fragile in 2016 and lost its confidence. The club and players decided to change its style - more attacking - but they kept conceding goals and could not win a game.

"I can guide the players and we have to respect the point and not throw it away. Don't lose to teams around you as well. We are in a fight of seven and we have to top that.

"Failure would be a very difficult for me to take. I have not failed in the Premier League since I took over at Bolton in 2001. I cannot just click my fingers and wave a magic wand. The players have to overcome their fears and produce on the pitch."

How it looks at the bottom.

A victory for Crystal Palace and they could climb out of the relegation zone.

Two changes for Crystal Palace after defeat against Stoke last time out -one particularly significant as defender Mamadou Sakho makes his debut after signing on loan from Liverpool on the last day of the January transfer window. He replaces Damien Delaney, while Yohan Cabaye comes in for James McArthur.

Palace XI: Hennessey, Ward, Tomkins, Sakho, Van Aanholt, Milivojevic, Townsend, Cabaye, Puncheon, Zaha, C Benteke.

Middlesbrough restore the big guns after beating Oxford in the FA Cup. Seven changes in all with Alvaro Negredo, Cristhian Stuani, Gaston Ramirez and Victor Valdes among those restored.

Boro XI: Valdés, Bernardo, Ayala, Gibson, Fabio, Forshaw, de Roon, Stuani, Ramírez, Downing, Negredo.

Image source, Getty Images

It's getting to that stage of the season where we start using cliches like, "six pointer", "dare not lose" and "looking over their shoulders".

This match falls into those categories.

Win and there is hope, lose and it could soon be curtains.