of heavy defeats under Moncur – losing 7–1 at York, 6–1 at Aldershot and 6–0 at home to Doncaster. As Pools improved in the second half of the season and moved off bottom spot after being rooted there with 9 points from 18 games, Allon managed 17 goals in 45 league starts to become the club's joint top-scorer with strike partner Paul Baker. New boss Cyril Knowles was the catalyst for change as he turned the club's fortunes around. Allon enjoyed a reunion with his former Newcastle United teammate Gascoigne in September 1990 as Pools played Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup. Gascoigne netted 4 in a 5–0 White Hart Lane defeat for Pools, who lost the second-leg 2–1 at the Victoria Ground. Allon netted the winning goal for Pools at Feethams in November 1990, as Pools beat rivals Darlington 1–0. By scoring the winning goal at Feethams in 1997, the striker holds the distinction of being the only Pools striker to have twice scored a winning goal in front of the Tin Shed, the favoured end for supporters of Darlington. Allon netted 35 times as Pools won promotion in 1990–91 for only the second time in their history. Pools finished third, but were only one point behind champions Darlington. Allon hit 35 goals in 55 games in the campaign, and was named Hennessey Cognac North East Player of the Year and North East Football Writers Player of the Year, and was also voted onto the PFA Team of the Year. Chelsea His form that season earned him a move to top-flight side Chelsea in August 1991, with manager Ian Porterfield paying a fee reported to be £250,000. Middlesbrough were also interested in his services that summer. Allon scored at home on his Chelsea debut, at the Shed End, however, he failed to make an impact at Stamford Bridge, and in February of the 1991–92 season he joined Port Vale on loan, but made just six goalless appearances for John Rudge's Valiants, who struggled in vain to avoid relegation out of the Second Division. He only stayed for a few months of 1992–93, the inaugural season of the Premier League. It was rumoured that his friendship with Vinnie Jones led him astray and helped to bring about his poor form. In all he started just four games (with a further 14 substitute appearances) and scored three goals for the Blues.