Individuals let us down - Allardyce bemoans Kelly error

Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce singled out defender Martin Kelly for criticism following his side's 5-0 humiliation at Manchester City.

Kelly's loose header landed kindly for David Silva to open the scoring inside two minutes at the Etihad Stadium, before City kicked on with four second-half goals to give the scoreline a more emphatic look.

Allardyce had started with five at the back but swiftly re-shuffled his pack after conceding the early goal, although he insists his tactics were not behind the team's hammering.

"Our system did not cause us to concede today's first goal - our defender had to clear the ball and he didn't, and from it they scored. Individuals did not perform to our usual standards. We didn't really recover form that," Allardyce told BBC Radio Five Live. 

"I did not expect to see what we saw in the second half, which was very disappointing because we'd fought back into the game and were keeping Manchester City at bay.

"But Vincent Kompany was free in our box and scored their second, and after that we simply lost control and Manchester City scored more and more. 

"My team was unrecognisable from what I've seen over the last two or three months - hopefully that is a one-off and the lads have got it out of our system ahead of the biggest game of the season next week at home to Hull. 

"But [we were] very disappointing here."

The result leaves Palace six points clear of the relegation zone, with relegation rivals Hull City and Swansea City playing later on Saturday.