Keith Millen believes he can still land the vacant Crystal Palace job despite a "lacklustre" 3-1 Premier League defeat to West Ham.
Palace's caretaker manager is confident co-chairman Steve Parish will not rule him out of contention to succeed Tony Pulis on the evidence of Saturday's comprehensive loss
Mauro Zarate, Stewart Downing and Carlton Cole fired West Ham to victory at Selhurst Park, with Marouane Chamakh slotting a consolation for the hosts.
Millen said he will meet Parish to discuss transfer targets on Sunday, acutely aware the September 1 transfer deadline is fast approaching.
"I don't think today's performance and result has any real reflection on myself or my chances, I would like to think it wouldn't anyway," said Millen.
"One result doesn't determine if you're the right manager or not.
"I know from our personal conversations what he's looking for, and if he feels I'm the right one to do it, then I will talk to him again.
"We have spoken all week really, because we know it's coming to the deadline now and we haven't appointed anyone yet.
"We know what we need, what positions, we've got a list of players the chairman knows and is working on.
"We never got going, we were flat, we never got any tempo through our pressing and we allowed West Ham to control the game.
"Generally we were lacklustre.
"I don't like to hide behind excuses, but it's been a tough week for the players."
Parish and Palace have seen first and second-choice managerial recruits slip away, with Malky Mackay and Tim Sherwood both out of the picture.
Mackay was ruled out after the Football Association confirmed an investigation into his controversial text exchanges with Iain Moody during the duo's tenure at Cardiff.
Moody resigned his sporting director role at Palace on Thursday, leaving Millen to man the Eagles' transfer plans single-handedly.
Sherwood withdrew his candidacy after being deemed second-choice to Mackay, while Chris Hughton, Neil Lennon and even Ally McCoist have been linked with the job.
Millen said Parish will not rush into appointing Pulis' replacement, but admitted a new manager will herald a "fresh start".
Admitting he remains in the dark about Palace's future, Millen said he expects to take charge of Tuesday's Capital One Cup trip to Walsall.
"No I don't know," said Millen when asked for the latest developments on Palace's manager search.
"The last couple of days the chairman has really left me to concentrate on the game, and that's what I've done.
"We've got a lot of work to do, I've got to speak to the chairman tomorrow and see what his thoughts are.
"I do expect to be in charge on Tuesday.
"It's been a shock to everyone, the circumstances of Tony leaving then the situation last Wednesday, Thursday with Malky.
"It's been a tough week for the club, but I don't think it's going to drag on.
"Once we appoint a new manager it will be a fresh start, we'll have a new direction.
"We don't have to have someone in by next weekend: if the chairman doesn't find the right person I don't think he'll rush into it."
West Ham shrugged off a sluggish opening-day 1-0 home defeat to Tottenham in style, easing lingering pressure on Allardyce.
The former Bolton boss saved his job in the summer by pledging a new era of attacking football, and now believes he can deliver.
Hailing new recruits Cheikhou Kouyate, Aaron Cresswell and Zarate, Allardyce said he will happily hand credit to attack coach Teddy Sheringham.
"It's better than I've seen three players adjust to the Premier League in my 11 or 12 years," said the West Ham boss.
"Sending the players to Teddy, they really look forward to it.
"Teddy's fitted in really well and if we continue to show those finishing qualities I don't mind him taking all the credit."
Source : PA
Source: PA