The manager has heard ‘too many’ mentions of the 1992-93 season but the current side can seal Premier League safety with a point against Hull CitySam Allardyce had anticipated a difficult week. He had to rebuild confidence after a five-goal drubbing and in liaison with an overworked medical department piece together a defence to secure survival from Crystal Palace’s massed ranks of walking wounded. Yet, with the situation already tense, he probably had not envisaged his onerous workload playing out to regular and unnerving references to all things Oldham Athletic.At first mention, Palace’s manager of almost five months must have been perplexed at the apparent relevance of a distant club languishing in League One but there are enough figures down at the Beckenham training ground who remember. Former players turned coaches such as Richard Shaw or figures around the club such as Eddie McGoldrick. For anyone with a long association with Palace, Oldham 1993 is still the stuff of nightmares. Had anyone mentioned it to him? “Yeah,” Allardyce said. “Too many.” Related: Crystal Palace v Hull City: match preview I’m usually reduced to watching box sets but I’m running out at the moment Continue readingreadfullarticle
