Sam Allardyce hopes experience is the key

Sam Allardyce is hoping his experience of helping the likes of Blackburn and West Ham survive in the Premier League will ensure his new club Sunderland avoid relegation this season.

The 60-year-old was confirmed as the Dick Advocaat’s successor at the Stadium of Light at the end of last week after he agreed a two-year contract following successful negotiations with owner Ellis Short.

However Allardyce arrives with Sunderland sitting joint-bottom of the table on three points and without a win in their opening eight matches.

They are already five points adrift of safety so there is work to do to for the new man, but he is supremely confident of avoiding the drop having successfully taken over several clubs in similar predicaments in the past.

Allardyce told Sky Sports: “People always look at me and see what I’ve done at West Ham and Blackburn, which is a similar resurrection to what I’ve got to do at Sunderland.

“Get them out of trouble as soon as I can and up that league because this year is obviously very important time for everyone based on the new [television rights] deal coming in next season.

“I’ve got to get going and get stuck into the players, stuck into the staff and start getting everyone working my way and hopefully my way will be as good for Sunderland as it has been for the other clubs I have worked at, particularly West Ham.”

Sunderland, who are 1.22 to be relegated, face West Brom away in Allardyce’s first game in charge on Saturday. They are available at 4.00 to win, while Albion are 2.00 and the draw is 3.20.