Crystal Palace boss Sam Allardyce says his players froze for their 4-0 home defeat to Sunderland.

Victory could have taken Palace out of the relegation zone and built a six-point gap over their visitors - but defeat has left them at their greatest risk of relegation since they were promoted in 2013 and again highlighted their inability to beat teams around them.

"It was all about fear when the first goal went in," said Allardyce, 62, who impressed in inspiring Sunderland to survival last season. "The fear overtook them and they lost control. Particularly when you go a goal down.

"Once fear takes over, the mind gets confused and we saw the players doing a lot of stuff we didn't envisage. The frailty showed in their defending in the first half, and the four goals.

"The players are struggling in their home form. I've got to get rid of that fear and get them playing much, much better.

"I saw it against Swansea and again (against Sunderland). Two teams below us: we haven't performed anything near where we know we can, and lost both.

"I think we're bottom of the league in home points gained, and ninth in the league from points gained away from home.

"It's not down to the fans; the fans don't place them under a huge amount of pressure, compared to other clubs I've managed. They want to support and get behind them.

"I apologise to them for coming and seeing what they saw in that first half."