Sunday 14 May 2017 15:23, UK
Sam Allardyce admitted that survival was "a massive relief" after Crystal Palace ensured their Premier League safety with a 4-0 win that relegated Hull City.
Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke put the Eagles in control at half-time at Selhurst Park, while Luka Milivojevic netted a late penalty before Patrick van Aanholt rounded off the win in stoppage time.
A win for Hull would have brought them to within a point of Palace with a game remaining, but instead it was Allardyce's charges who guaranteed themselves Premier League football next season.
"It's a massive relief, that's for sure," Allardyce told Sky Sports. "We all know the implications of relegation and the devastation it causes to a football club. This club has been in the Premier League for [four years] and wants to grow with it now.
"It was a brilliant effort by the players today, tactically we set up to nullify Hull and really expose them where we thought they were weak.
"[Then at 2-0 down] they had to change it and throw caution to the wind, so we sat in to defend that situation as we didn't need to score again and they did. We allowed them all the possession they wanted and gave them no chances.
"They finally over-committed and we knocked in two great goals at the end. It was the perfect performance by the players today and it's terrific for everyone that's taken part since I've been here, particularly the fans."
Allardyce has a great record of keeping teams in the Premier League, and he rates saving Palace as his toughest challenge yet due to their tricky run of fixtures.
"Because of the run-in and the sides we've had to play this was the hardest," he said. "We've now not wasted the magnificent results we achieved in that short spell against Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.
"We had a little slip-up after a lot of injuries, but now we've come back, and what a way to finish in your final home game.
"I know it puts Hull down after a brave fight, but for us it's a great, great feeling."
