CRYSTAL PALACE 0 SOUTHAMPTON 1 Davis (6)

ROY HODGSON’S first game as Crystal Palace manager ended in defeat to Southampton as they set two unwanted records at Selhurst Park.

Steven Davis’ early goal for Saints means the Eagles have become the first ever top-flight team to lose each of their opening five league fixtures without scoring a goal.

Their pursuit of a first Premier League goal of the campaign is now longer than Newcastle’s wait of 438 minutes in the 2005-06 season.

It took only six minutes for the visitors to expose the extent of the challenge Hodgson must overcome.

Dusan Tadic beat Jeffrey Schlupp and though his cross was palmed out by Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, Davis was on hand to tuck it in as the appointment of the former England manager in place of Frank de Boer paid no instant dividend.

On-loan Ruben Loftus-Cheek – one of very few plus points in Palace’s miserable season so far – combined with Andros Townsend to square to Christian Benteke in front of goal, and the striker forced a fine save from Fraser Forster despite his shot lacking conviction.

On the half-hour mark LoftusCheek exchanged passes with Benteke before shooting just wide from 25 yards, and then latched on to Jason Puncheon’s through-ball before Ryan Bertrand’s block sent his effort wide.

By half-time the hosts were in the ascendancy and retained that momentum after the restart.

It took only four minutes of the second half for Schlupp to send a low cross to Puncheon, whose sixyard shot forced Forster to spread himself into a fine reaction save.

From then on though neither side created much, with the Saints having only scored twice in open play this season themselves.

Only Southampton’s Cedric Soares threatened, forcing another save from Hennessey late on.

Palace remain bottom, with fixtures against Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea to follow in the coming weeks.