Sam Allardyce’s entrance music is blaring once again.
Leeds United have drafted in Sam Allaradyce in their final bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League, ditching the glamorous appointments in favour of somebody who knows how to get his hands dirty at this point of the season.
Here’s a look back at Allardyce’s previous relegation battles.
Big Sam’s first dance with the drop zone came with Bolton in 2001/02, just 12 months after he led the team to the Premier League.
A run of 12 games without a win between November and February had Bolton braced for an immediate return to the second tier, but big wins over top-half teams like West Ham, Charlton and Aston Villa soon calmed tensions.
A 4-1 win over fellow relegation strugglers Ipswich effectively sealed Bolton’s safety, before an impressive 1-1 draw with Tottenham steered Bolton to 16th.
Another tough year for Bolton, who were 19th at Christmas in 2002 before a stunning upturn in form in 2003 led the underdogs to safety.
Boxing Day brought a huge 4-3 win over a Newcastle side who ended up in third, and Bolton would only lose a further four games across the season. That run saw eventual champions Manchester United held to a 1-1 draw and second-placed Arsenal frustrated 0-0 as well.
They needed that sort of form as West Ham ended up getting relegated on a huge 42 points, just two behind Bolton.
Allardyce’s reputation as a relegation specialist began in 2008/09, when he was drafted in to save a struggling Blackburn side who were 19th in December.
A six-game unbeaten streak immediately validated Blackburn’s decision and pretty much secured safety there and then.
Blackburn had a mixed end to the season but overachieved with draws against Everton and West Ham, and there was even a 2-1 win over Tottenham that removed any doubt as Rovers ended up 15th, seven points clear of the drop.
Several successful years with West Ham followed for Allardyce but the relegation battle came calling once again in 2015/16
Sunderland had just three points from an eight-game run under Dick Advocaat when they hit the panic button and dialled up Allardyce’s phone. Despite a big 3-0 win over rivals Newcastle in his second game, it took a while to get the Black Cats going and they were still in the relegation zone when April arrived.
A 3-0 win over 17th-placed Norwich saw them close the gap to safety to…
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