Sam Allardyce was appointed Crystal Palace boss on Friday (pic: CPFC)

Sam Allardyce says his first task as Crystal Palace boss will be to tighten up a defence that has leaked 32 goals in 17 Premier League matches this season.

Allardyce was appointed Palace manager on Friday, penning a two-and-a-half year deal after the club parted company with Alan Pardew on Thursday.

Former England manager Allardyce inherits a side low on confidence with Palace languishing in 17th place having won just once in their last 11 Premier League matches.

"I've got a very important job in stopping the goals going in at the other end first, to be perfectly honest," Allardyce said.

Allardyce has made tightening up Crystal Palace's defence a priority

"Attacking players when you're in possession are fantastic because this season the strengthening in that area by the club and by Alan has brought a lot of flair to the team and I think that has brought quite a few more goals than perhaps they were looking like scoring last season.

"But at the other side of it is when we're not in possession we've just got to stop conceding goals and make sure that those goals we score win us games now. It sounds simple, but it's not that easy and that's what we've got to try and turn around.

Palace managed just six Premier League wins under Alan Pardew in 2016

"[The target] first and foremost is just to say 'let's stop losing'. That's the object, to try and find the basis of consistency that brings us some results."

Allardyce was quick to praise the ambition of Palace chairman Steve Parish, and the club's American owners, whom Pardew claimed just three weeks ago "perhaps don't know a lot about football".

"The club seems to be very ambitious," he said.

Allardyce believes Palace are heading in the right direction under chairman Steve Parish (centre)

"Certainly the chairman and the owners seem to be taking the club forward in the right direction."

Allardyce has never been relegated while in charge of a Premier League club and will work closely with the club's hierarchy ahead of the forthcoming January transfer window.

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The former West Ham and Sunderland boss admits he would like to strengthen his squad but his immediate concern is to stop players from leaving Selhurst Park.

He said: "We've got to try and make sure we protect the players we've got and the rumours that may float around that people might be interested in our players is also of great concern when you're a manager because that is very disruptive and can put a player off his game.

Christian Benteke joined Palace for a club-record fee over the summer

"Particularly in the position we're in we don't want any of that.

"We're certainly trying to recruit and make the squad a little bit bigger with a little bit more strength in depth would obviously be a key area for me. The players who are here are good enough but also if we can add to that then let's try and do it."

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