GET PACK TO BASICS NOW! Captain Coady’s call to end Wolves’ howlers

five matches.

Hodgson, having led Fulham to the Europa League final in 2010, knows all about the complications of participating in Uefa’s second club competition - and playing Thursday and Sunday most weeks.

But while full of sympathy for the visitors’ plight, the Palace boss (right) plans to show them no mercy today.

Hodgson warned: “Unfortunately, that is part of the business of football – kicking teams when they are down.

“People talk about the second season syndrome but that’s just a cliché. I can’t believe for one minute Wolves thought the Premier League is easy.

I’m sure their attitude is the same as last season.

“They’ve not had the start they wanted. They’ve had some disappointing results – particularly against Chelsea last weekend and in the Europa League on Thursday.

“To come away with a defeat from that last game will be a bitter blow for them. I watched it and felt they were the better team.

“But there’s no doubt it doesn’t help when you start the season so much earlier than everyone else and you have to play all these qualification games – even when you win them.”

Recalling Fulham’s stunning Europa League run a decade ago – when they lost in the final to Atletico Madrid – Hodgson reckons it definitely hindered their Premier League ambitions.

“We played 19 games to get to the final and also came into the qualification period very early – like Wolves,” added the ex-England boss.

“We dropped from

seventh to 12th that year. It was down to the extra games. You need a big squad to deal with that but it’s not easy for the likes of Fulham and Wolves to have that sort of squad. “You end up playing your best 11 for a lot of the games and it takes a toll.“ Despite their lighter schedule this season, Palace have not exactly been the model of consistency. After back-to back victories over Manchester United and Aston Villa, the South Londoners were thumped 4-0 at Tottenham.