‘Fireman Sam’ makes instant impact as Everton climb table
Manager has simplified the game and is targeting a top-half finish
Liverpool — Everton manager Sam Allardyce’s ability to quickly get teams out of relegation trouble is the defining characteristic of his management career but his effect at Goodison Park has been so swift, he is already looking at a top-half finish. Everton’s 3-1 win over Swansea City on Monday pushed the Merseysiders up to ninth in the Premier League and the worries of a long scrap against the drop already seem a distant memory. "The target now? Top half, but let’s not get carried away," said former England manager Allardyce after second-half goals from Gylfi Sigurdsson and Wayne Rooney, with a penalty, secured a comeback victory over the bottom-placed Welsh club. Everton were in the relegation zone when they sacked Ronald Koeman on October 23 following a humiliating 5-2 loss at home to Arsenal. The club’s Under-23 coach David Unsworth then had an extended spell as caretaker manager during which he managed just two wins in eight games. His second and final win, a 4-0 success agains...
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