IT was good to see Sam Allardyce back smiling at Wanderers, lapping up fans’ applause prior to kick-off, but it was better to see his beloved club standing back on its own two feet.

You cannot underplay what Big Sam did for Bolton, nor doubt that whatever journey he has been on since walking out just under a decade ago he remains passionate about the Whites’ cause.

Whether he was manager of England, West Ham or Newcastle United, the princely sum of £2 still leaves his bank account each week to supplement Wanderers’ vital Lifeline lottery fund. And it has done since the seventies.

His post-match walk from dressing room to media suite and back took considerably longer than any other visiting manager this season, such was the volume of well-wishers and old friends seeking a chat.

Heck, some of the staff even left a bag of Carrs pasties in the away dressing room to make him feel back at home.

There are few conversational topics Big Sam cannot relate back to his success at Bolton, and he has spent the last eight years trying to replicate that same magic elsewhere.

Perhaps, then, with the FA Cup’s importance diminished in his new job trying to save Palace’s Premier League skins, he would have allowed himself a little swell of pride at seeing the never-say-die attitude he once instilled here is back again under Phil Parkinson.

The current boss was typically gracious in the build-up to a game that had become all about Allardyce’s return to his old stomping ground. But he should get credit after the event for setting up a team that not only coped with their top-flight adversaries, but bettered them in the second half.

Had Josh Vela’s fine 64th minute header drifted an inch or two left instead of bouncing off the beaten Julian Speroni’s upright, we would have had a cup upset on the cards.

That might still happen, of course, but Palace will surely be a tougher proposition at Selhurst Park.

Allardyce had made several changes to his line-up but could still call on international stars such as Joe Ledley, Loic Remy and Chung-Yong Lee, the South Korean making his own return to the ground he graced as a player.

Parkinson was keen to see how far his team had progressed. On this evidence, he should be very pleased with the results.

Palace had plenty of class, some of Chung-Yong’s movement and Remy’s first-half touches were a reminder of better days. Yet Wanderers were far from overwhelmed and thanks to some ferocious effort from the likes of Jay Spearing and James Henry and yet more sensible, reliable defending from a back five which continues to impress, Parkinson’s side fully deserve to be in the hat for this evening’s fourth-round draw.

Allardyce was gracious, praising Bolton for a “fantastic performance” but acknowledging his own team will need strengthening considerably in January to do what is required of them this season.

“They played a good and simple game with a good target man who they can play off,” he said, having always been one to appreciate the work of a big man up front. “They didn’t create too many chances but they put pressure on us and we kept a clean sheet, which is something.

“If we don’t buy in the transfer window, we’ll be making life a little bit harder to stay in the Premier League.”

So much water has passed under the bridge since Big Sam was stood in the same tunnel making statements about Wanderers’ spending power, and where it might lead them.

Had Eddie Davies and Phil Gartside gambled back then and provided him with the £20million war chest to go for Champions League qualification, who knows what might have happened? Perhaps Bolton could have mixed it for longer with the big boys, or perhaps financial issues would have raised their ugly head sooner?

“Three tiers being closed was very sad for me,” said Allardyce, in reference to the closed areas of the Macron on cup day. “It has been a long time since I left and their demise has not been nice to watch from afar.”

But Big Sam will know better than most that you have to start somewhere, and let us not forget his first three home games as manager back in 1999 – one of which was against Palace – were contested in front of sub-13,000 crowds spread right around that very same stadium.

Allardyce will surely identify more with the fact those who paid for their ticket are fully behind their team.

Not for a long while have we heard each player given a hearty cheer before kick-off as their name was read out – an act which has sometimes felt rushed in recent years, perhaps in an effort to rattle through it with minimum disturbance.

Wanderers are enjoying playing at home again. They did not rack up the 11th consecutive home win in all competitions but came mightily close.

Vela’s second-half header was the stand-out moment but an impressive Henry had a handful of chances in what was his best performance since signing on loan from Wolves.

Remy hit the outside of the woodwork for the Eagles in a bright first-half cameo – his debut for the club – and Ben Alnwick had to be on guard to repel other efforts.

Matthieu Flamini should have done better with one first-half chance but the Whites should also have had a penalty in the second period when the Frenchman barged into Gary Madine.

For sheer work-rate Wanderers matched and surpassed their visitors and fans stayed behind to cheer them off the field as they had greeted them on it.

Big Sam got due praise but the Whites are moving on to a bright new future, with a different saviour in the dugout.