Sam Allardyce says clean sheets are key for Sunderland

Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce says he will not apologise for 'parking the bus' when the circumstances require it.

The Black Cats produced a defensive masterclass at Selhurst Park on Monday night to claim their first away win of the season.

Having kept the Eagles fairly quiet, Sunderland struck 10 minutes from time, Jermain Defoe pouncing after a mix-up in the Palace defence to secure a 1-0 win.

It was the 150th Premier League win for Allardyce and he thinks clean sheets are the route to safety for his relegation-threatened side.

"It is a massive result for us and it is no coincidence that zero [goals] against got us a victory," he said. "Our two clean sheets this season have got us six points.

"It is the way to go and always has been. Today we frustrated the crowd, we frustrated Crystal Palace, and then we got a fantastic three points, our first away win of the season.

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"Keeping the crowd quiet here is very difficult because the team have a lot of players who get in wide areas and put the ball in the box, but we dealt with it extremely well today with five at the back.

"I liked it [the formation] at Everton away and the only reason it didn't work was because of our frailties in defending when we are at 2-2 and went gung-ho for the winner [Sunderland lost 6-2].

"With Defoe and [Steven] Fletcher up front, if we get opportunities we can score. We got a few today and one perhaps gifted to us.

"The longer it went on, the more anxious they got and the more spaces they left, which ultimately Jermain capitalised on after a little bit of a mix-up."

And Allardyce says his side will continue to look to soak up pressure on tricky away trips.

"In away terms, we have to frustrate the opposition," he said. "As Jose [Mourinho] says, we will 'park the bus', because we have to.

"At this moment in time we are trying to build our confidence, trying to get better as a team, and the only way you do that is to put points on the board and win football matches.

"We have got what we wanted and tomorrow [Tuesday] morning when the Sunderland fans wake up they will see three points on the board and we are all very happy.

"Hopefully we can turn that into another victory on Saturday [at home to Stoke]. Two wins on the trot in this position is massive."

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Allardyce also denied that he is planning to overhaul his squad when the transfer window opens.

He said: "I read in the paper yesterday I was selling Defoe. This is the trouble with the window coming in January.

"I'm selling everyone apparently, then I'm asking them to play. The only one [who might move] is Liam Bridcutt. Everyone else, I'm asking to come to the fight.

"I want to get the maximum from the players I have. The players have given me more confidence today. I try to guide them but they are the ones who go out and do it.

"They've got to be the saviours, not me. I can guide them, and help them along the way."