Sam Allardyce excited to walk the line with Crystal Palace

Watford 1, Crystal Palace 1: One could hardly tell from the thunderous expression on his face at the full-time whistle, as his new charges at Crystal Palace were held by Watford, but big Sam Allardyce said he was “excited” to be back in the big time.

The former Bolton, West Ham, and Sunderland manager was back in the dugout for the first time since September, when his 67-day reign as England manager was brought to an abrupt end after an undercover ‘sting’ prompted the Football Association to sack him.

And though he was stung again by the Hornets, who nicked a point from the penalty spot after being outplayed for most of the game by relegation-threatened Palace, Allardyce could not contain his delight to be back.