Saturday 8 April 2017 23:06, UK
Crystal Palace boss Sam Allardyce admits he no longer coaches his side on tackling because he feels referees protect players more.
Speaking ahead of the clash with Arsenal on Monday Night Football, the Eagles boss said it is more difficult to "bully" a team due to the rule changes.
Allardyce, whose side's four match winning run was ended by a 3-1 loss to Southampton on Wednesday, said managers like Arsene Wenger "complain" about the physical approach of teams.
But the former England boss claims it is "nonsense" that players who challenge hard for the ball are branded over-aggressive.
He said: "Well, we don't coach tackling any more because it's very difficult to get away with even a good tackle today.
"We train players to intercept and stay on their feet rather than go around and tackle them like they used to.
"We have to temper that side of it down because it's too easy for a player to get booked now and if that player continues to get booked then you lose him for two games.
"We've got him (Wenger) complaining at times about the physical aspect. (But) it's difficult to bully a team now because of the laws of the game and the protection the players rightly get.
"Even a good tackle could get you a card because it's said to be over-aggressive.
"I will never accept that in my entire life, that a player who takes the ball and then takes the man is over-aggressive, it's just nonsense."
Palace sit three points above the drop zone but with a tough run-in of fixtures, including five of the current top six, Allardyce's side have a long injury list.
With the Eagles having up to nine first-team players unavailable, he is hoping his medical staff can help the injured players to return in the next two weeks.
Allardyce said: "Looking at the injury list this morning, having got through most of March and into beginning of April when the team did not need to be changed, apart from tactically, we're now faced with a long list of injuries.
"Patrick van Aanholt, (Scott) Dann, (James) Tomkins, (James) McArthur, (Fraizer) Campbell, (Yohan) Cabaye picked up an injury, and then there's the long-term injuries to (Connor) Wickham, (Pape) Souare and Loic Remy.
"Hopefully the medical staff can work vigorously in the next two weeks to get them back on the pitch again."
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