EDDIE Howe believes Sam Allardyce might be underrated by some – but not by anyone within the football industry.

Everton boss Allardyce has a raft of managerial experience having taken charge of the likes of Crystal Palace, Sunderland, West Ham, Blackburn, Newcastle and Bolton.

The former England boss, who acquired the nickname 'Fireman Sam' in recognition of his firefighting talents, steered Palace and Sunderland to Premier League safety in recent seasons and also won promotion to the top flight with West Ham in 2012.

Speaking ahead of Cherries' clash with Allardyce's Toffees tomorrow (3pm), Howe said: "No manager with his record, how he gets his teams to play or the results he gets can be underrated by anyone working within football.

"Maybe the perception of other people over what Sam does isn't right and doesn't give him the credit he deserves.

"When you go into a football club, you are given your brief and invariably he does it.

"Nobody gives you a rulebook to say how you must do it. It's more about what the club needs and can you achieve it? He does and he's achieving it again at Everton, and that's the biggest complement I can give him.

"I relish any challenge, whether it's Sam Allardyce's team and how they play or another way of playing.

"You have to find a way to win against all types of styles. Sam has made Everton hard to beat, organised and difficult to break down.

"The beauty of this league is there are so many styles which managers will implement and you have to find a way to beat it."