Sam Allardyce has worked miracles with Sunderland and Palace and is now the ideal fit for West Brom

Here we go again. A club deep in the relegation dogfight, fighting to preserve their Premier League status – the footballing world knows there’s only one man for the job.

This task, however, may well be the toughest yet for Sam Allardyce, as he takes charge of West Brom following the sacking of Slaven Bilic in what is Big Sam’s first managerial role for two-and-a-half years. 

Despite an impressive point picked up on the road at Manchester City on Tuesday night, the Baggies are 19th in the table having won just once in 13 games since gaining promotion to the Premier League, via finishing second in the Championship last season. 

Slaven Bilic was sacked as West Brom manager on Wednesday with his side 19th in the table 

Sam Allardyce has been handed the reigns two-and-a-half years since his last role with Everton

They’ve kept just one clean sheet and have conceded more goals – 26 – than any other team in the division. That includes Sheffield United by the way, who are the only side below West Brom in the table. 

As such, the writing was on the wall for Bilic long before his team put in arguably their performance of the season at the Etihad.  

It would be fair to say, therefore, that Allardyce has his work cut out. And yet, we’ve been here before. Only a fool would write off the 66-year-old given his track record. 

After tenures at Bolton, Blackburn and West Ham where he routinely steered his teams away from the palpable panic of relegation, Big Sam performed his first miracle five years ago, as Sunderland boss. 

The parallels with his new job are succinct. When he took over from Dick Advocaat within the first two months of the season, the Black Cats were also 19th in the table, with three points from eight matches. 

But after a morale-boosting 3-0 win against rivals Newcastle in his second game of charge, prospects looked all-together rosier. Even with Sunderland deep in the relegation zone come the new year, Allardyce pulled off one of the great escapes. 

Even by mid-April, they were in the drop-zone. But a memorable 3-0 win against Everton not only saved their skin, but confined Newcastle to relegation on a memorable evening at the Stadium of Light. 

It was, undoubtedly, one of the biggest achievements in Allardyce’s career of top-flight management. 

Allardyce celebrates at the Stadium of Light after Sunderland’s league survival is sealed 

He guided a Black Cats side in a dire state at the turn of the year to safety in dramatic fashion

Big Sam had earned the enormous amount of praise he received, with his trademark strengths of making his teams difficult to beat widely credited with Sunderland’s narrow survival.  

In fact, his short-term influence was so impressive that he was given his dream job in charge of England come the summer. 

And although he left just one game in by mutual consent following a newspaper sting, he was soon back in a Premier League hotseat with the objective again in no doubt – keep them in the league. 

This time, it was Steve Parish and Crystal Palace who came calling, with Allardyce taking charge two days before Christmas as the Eagles booted out Alan Pardew. 

Though the predicament was not quite as dire as experienced a year earlier, Palace were still a point above the relegation zone when he took charge – a team dramatically underperforming following a run to the FA Cup final the season before. 

Allardyce took charge at Crystal Palace and succeeded in his goal to keep them in the league

And yet on this occasion, it took some time for the Allardyce touch to feel its full effect. After an opening draw at Watford, Palace lost five on the bounce in the league before picking up a pivotal win at Bournemouth in late January. 

Crucially, Allardyce strengthened astutely in the January transfer window, with signings such as Jeffrey Schlupp, Mamadou Sakho, Patrick van Aanholt and Luka Milivojevic all still at the club. 

But in the end, after a run of seven wins in nine matches from February to April, Palace finished in 14th, a comfortable seven points above the relegation zone.

Big Sam resigned straight after, insisting he wasn’t interesting in taking another job in club management. Yet he went against his word just six months later, taking over at Everton who – by their standards – had started poorly under Ronald Koeman and were 13th in the table. 

Though he left the club 12 months into an 18 month-contract, with fans unhappy at what was perceived as a negative style of play, on paper Allardyce had again improved a team under his stewardship – the Toffees finished in eighth. 

Allardyce (with long-term assistant Sammy Lee, left) improved Everton’s fortunes after arriving

It is no secret what the wily Premier League veteran brings to the table: stability and solidity in defence, structured organisation throughout the side and an absolute commitment to the club and its supporters of a high work-ethic from every player under his control. 

They’re core elements of any side who wants to achieve Premier League survival – there is arguably nobody better equipped to turn around a team leaking goals week in, week out.  

But, like he did at both Sunderland and Palace, Allardyce will need to strengthen in next month’s transfer window and improve a team which is, on current form, under-par.     

He will also have to implement discipline and concentration, particularly late on in games. West Brom let a 3-0 lead against Chelsea slip earlier in the season and were also leading at Everton before Kieran Gibbs’ foolish red card.

However, as shown on Tuesday, Allardyce has got a framework to work with. The Baggies almost held Tottenham at home and were unlucky to leave Old Trafford with nothing last month. 

West Brom picked up a point at Man City but need to start winning to stay in the division

Allardyce will take charge of his eighth Premier League club as he begins his six-month deal

Starting with this Sunday’s midlands derby against Aston Villa, West Brom need to start picking up not just points, but wins. It doesn’t get any easier afterwards, with matches against Liverpool, Leeds and Arsenal in the festive period. 

But the end-goal is distinguishably clear and if his history has proved anything, it is that Big Sam is more than capable of working another miracle at the Hawthorns this season. 

And after 30 months out of the dugout, Allardyce will be desperate to prove his management skills have not yet waned, as he takes charge of his eighth Premier League club.