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Crystal Palace are working '10 times harder' under Sam Allardyce, insists Andros Townsend

Putting in the hard yards: Andros Townsend: Getty Images
Putting in the hard yards: Andros Townsend: Getty Images

Crystal Palace are working "10 times harder" under Sam Allardyce, according to Andros Townsend.

The Eagles did not initially enjoy a new managerial bounce after Allardyce took over in December 2016 but have hit top form in recent weeks.

The south Londoners have beaten Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool to climb seven points clear of the relegation zone with just six games left to play.

Allardyce appears to have finally ended Palace's poor defensive record and Townsend is adamant the 62-year-old's vigorous fitness regime is paying dividends.

"For the first time in my career I'm putting in a good shift defensively and helping the team out," Townsend told Sky Sports.

"I don't think there has ever been a time when I've played as well as I am now.

"Fundamentally I wasn't fit enough in the first half of the season, I wasn't able to get up and down the pitch as much as I would like.

"[Fitness coach] Ryland Morgans has come in and changed that. He's got me getting the most out of my body.

"It took a while to get used to that more intense training, but look at the stats and you can see we are working 10 times harder," he added.

Palace host Tottenham at Selhurst Park this evening aiming to secure the victory that would see the club surpass the magical 40-point mark.