Sadly: crystal palace manager Roy Hodgson ask for replacement of Joel Ward from being the club captain his about leaving the team
Hodgson facing big week at Crystal Palace as scrutiny builds on boss
The Eagles have one win since September and face a daunting fixture list on the horizon
Joel Ward Roy Hodgso
Crystal Palace risk consigning themselves to the fate their fans feared when Roy Hodgson was kept on as manager for this season. Rather than kicking on, they appear to be treading water.
Faltering recent form has placed pressure on manager Roy Hodgson, who retains the support of chairman Steve Parish but faces a difficult run of fixtures to come.
The Eagles’ 3-2 defeat to Everton before the international break at least had the asterisk of the Toffees’ strong form heading into the game, but there were no mitigating circumstances for their 2-1 defeat at lowly Luton Town on Saturday.
Despite having 61 per cent possession and having twice as many shots as their hosts, Palace lost as Luton recorded their first-ever Premier League win at Kenilworth Road, leaving the Eagles with just one League win from their last six outings.
Sunday’s visit to West Ham and next Wednesday’s home match against Bournemouth now take on added significance, and not just because Palace are struggling for points.
Those games are followed by a tough run that features matches against Liverpool, Manchester City, Brighton, Chelsea and Brentford before the end of the year.
And then their first Premier League fixture next year? Arsenal. Away. Palace could be in real trouble by late January if they are not careful.
It is a run of games reminiscent of the two-month spell from January to March that spelt the end for Patrick Vieira last season.
Games against Tottenham, Southampton, Newcastle, Manchester United (twice), Brighton (twice), Brentford, Liverpool, City and Aston Villa yielded just five points and no wins.
