Just over eight weeks ago, Crystal Palace trudged off the pitch at Stoke City and appeared doomed - 19th in the Premier League and a first career relegation for Sam Allardyce on the horizon.
The week before, Allardyce's former side Sunderland had ransacked Selhurst Park, scoring four first-half goals to seal a startling 4-0 victory. From Allardyce's first eight Premier League games, Palace took only four points and there was little sign of change.
Yet after Monday night's 3-0 demolition of Arsenal, Palace have secured five wins from the last six games and stunned Champions-elect Chelsea with a 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago.