No need to panic as Roy’s boys slip
HODGSON KEEPS CALM
ROY HODGSON insists there is no need to panic.
Crystal Palace sit just outside the dreaded drop zone after a pitiful display against Everton saw them suffer their 12th defeat in the Premier League this season.
The Eagles boss said he would have “laughed in the face” of anyone who said they would be outside the relegation places in February after starting the season with seven straight defeats.
But facing Spurs, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool in four of their next five games is no laughing matter for worried Palace fans.
“The panic was after seven games,” said Hodgson. “We have moved away from that and shown we can do it. We have shown we have the ability and fighting spirit in the team.
Harder
“There is no reason for me to panic as yet. I suppose I will start panicking when we get into the situation where there are not enough games left to get the necessary number of points.”
Palace’s task is made harder by injuries to key players, and the biggest loss is Wilfried Zaha for six weeks. Without him the Eagles have not won a league game since September 2016.
Midfielder James McArthur said: “Zaha is a big loss. He’s a big player for the club but it is about every one of us sticking together and stepping up to try to fill that void of Wilfried.”
After a dreadful first-half, Gylfi Sigurdsson put Everton in front 45 seconds after the restart with a deflected effort after Oumar Niasse made the most of Palace’s defensive frailties. The Toffees doubled their lead in the 51st minute when Niasse headed home a Cuco Martina cross and they got a third through Tom Davies with 15 minutes to go when he slotted home after Sigurdsson set it up.
It was the first goal of the season for teenager Davies, who impressed last term but has struggled for form and playing time.
Everton boss Allardyce said: “He asked what he needed to do to get back into the team.
“The coaching staff said here are your training stats – lift up your stats and you will have a better opportunity to get into the team and his impressive work in training caught the eye.”
One player who is struggling to impress the Everton fans is Morgan Schneiderlin and his late introduction brought a chorus of boos from all around Goodison Park.
Allardyce added: “What it says is that for whatever reason they think he should be doing better.”
Palace pulled one back from the spot through Luka Milivojevic after Ashley Williams handled in the area but it was too late for a comeback.