Ian Wright praises the defensive resolve Sam Allardyce has already brought to Everton.
BT Sport pundit Ian Wright looks on prior to the Emirates FA Cup Semi-Final match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium.
Ian Wright thinks that Sam Allardyce has already shown what influence he can have at Everton as the club won back-to-back matches for the first time this season.
After beating West Ham United 4-0 in the Premier League in midweek – a game in which David Unsworth was still in caretaker charge but Allardyce was in the stands ahead of his appointment – they then triumphed 2-0 against Huddersfield Town in the 63-year-old’s first match in the dugout.
Sam Allardyce, manager of Everton, shows appreciation to the fans prior to the Premier League match against Huddersfield Town.
“Two games, two clean-sheets. They conceded 28 goals in their first 13 games,” said Wright while speaking as a pundit on Match Of The Day. “I don’t think it’s any coincidence Big Sam being there.
“They’re going to start keeping clean-sheets. You know if you’re not conceding you’re not losing games.”
The Toffees are now up to tenth in the table after that result against Huddersfield and are eight points clear of the relegation zone having been in the bottom three at times this term.
Laurent Depoitre of Huddersfield Town is challenged by Ashley Williams of Everton during the Premier League match at Goodison Park.
The Merseyside team did have the worst defensive record in the English top flight after 13 outings with 28 conceded, as Wright outlined, but now both Stoke City and West Ham United have let in more.
There had been plenty of criticism aimed at the club’s defenders as a result, in particular centre-backs Phil Jagielka, Michael Keane and Ashley Williams, but the latter was praised by the former Arsenal striker for his display against the Terriers.
“He’s playing very well under Sam,” Wright said of Williams. “Sam will get him going.”
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