Sam Allardyce was key to Crystal Palace transfer - Schlupp

January signing Jeffrey Schlupp became Sam Allardyce's first transfer as Crystal Palace gaffer, and making the move from Leicester City, he admitted the manager was a key reason in his decision.

Speaking to Crystal Palace FC as he met with the media to preview tonight's clash against Southampton, Schlupp reflected on his transfer from Leicester and how important Allardyce had been in his decision to make the move from the Midlands down to London.

"Everyone was aware of what he achieved before he joined and was a key reason for me coming here. He sends us out onto the pitch with a game plan that we have been working on in training and our results prove that it is working. He puts the trust in us and then we go out on the pitch wanting to do it for him. We do a lot out on the training pitch regarding our shape and he works with us as a defensive group and we have been doing a lot of work on that. Based on what we have been doing in games has shown it has worked and that is why it is important that you keep doing the same practice during training as when you can look back at how well it has gone in a match shows you are doing something right."

With Schlupp having to wait until his fourth showing before he tasted victory in the game against Middlesbrough following his move in January, with a general shift in form of late, the player himself knows that confidence in the group has definitely been boosted and he's looking forward to the season run in where we can push up the table and really build some momentum for next season.

"Confidence is a massive factor and the gaffer has put that back into us and of course going out getting results helps with that as well. The manager will have wanted things to change a bit quicker but we were not able to do that and now it is starting to work out well."

With Southampton next up later this evening, Palace go into the tie only three points behind them - they sit in tenth place - but with us now four points outside of the relegation zone, clearly victory could make a major impact on the look of the table.

"The Premier League is one where anyone can beat anybody else and we know we are not safe until it`s done and we are not a group of players to get carried away, we know we have a task ahead and go into every game looking to get ever nearer that final target to stay up. A look at the table shows how tight it is as again this year and if we can go there and get the result it will be a big statement and help us move up the table."