Allardyce eyes defensive improvements

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has made defensive signings a priority during the run-in to the end of the transfer window.

Allardyce’s side were beaten by London rivals Tottenham on Saturday in their Premier League opener, a game that saw James Collins sent off just after the hour.

The Welshman’s suspension gives Allardyce further defensive worries as he could also be without James Tomkins for Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace.

Recent attacking additions Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia could soon be available to start for West Ham, but Allardyce, linked with Manchester City pair Matija Nastasic and Micah Richards, says he remains eager to bring in defenders.

“Sakho and Valencia are moving forward with their fitness on a daily basis and will be used as quickly as possible,” he said on Thursday.

“There’s no search for any more strikers from my point of view, the difficulty is at the other end. We’re without James Collins because of suspension and we could be without James Tomkins because of injury.

“We’re looking at players who are able to play in that position throughout Europe.”

West Ham meet a Palace side who also lost their opening game of the campaign 2-1 to Arsenal.

Allardyce was impressed by the way managerless Palace performed at the Emirates Stadium, but also warned that his side’s display against Spurs was a cause for optimism.

“You can only look at the way Palace played at Arsenal and say they were thoroughly professional and unlucky not to take anything,” he continued.

“I expect them to be difficult to break down and dangerous on the break.

“We’re bitterly disappointed to be sat here not with three points already, but the level of performance last week was really encouraging.”