Roy Hodgson enjoyed a dream return as manager of Crystal Palace, securing an invaluable three points in a 2-1 home victory against fellow strugglers Leicester City. Palace were struggling after a winless 12-match Premier League run, prompting Patrick Vieira’s dismissal. However, the return of Hodgson breathed new life into the Eagles.
Hodgson, who previously managed Palace between 2017 and 2021, described the win as a “wonderful feeling” and a “relief,” evidenced by the statistics. Palace managed 31 attempts on goal, compared to Leicester’s three, and were intent on playing the game in their opponents’ half, capitalizing on final third opportunities.
The victory pushed Palace up to 12th place in the league, five points ahead of the Foxes, who fell into the bottom three. Leicester hasn’t picked up many points lately, having only gained one point in their last 18, putting mounting pressure on manager Brendan Rodgers. Despite this, the former Liverpool manager believes that the Foxes can turn things around, citing that everything is still in their control.
“We have a lot of points to play for,” he told reporters. “We’ve been in the position before and dealt with that adverse moment and got ourselves out of it. The confidence is not quite where we want it to be, but the players are working hard.”
Palace’s attacking statistics were impressive and showed the team’s determination to end their losing streak. The win will give the Eagles’ players and fans renewed hope and confidence, especially now that they have Hodgson back at the helm.
Palace’s attacking efforts give the impression that the team has turned over a new leaf, much to the delight of their manager. Hodgson’s strategy and game plan seem to have worked, with Palace intent on playing attacking football, keeping their opponents on the back foot.
The result adds more excitement to the struggling Premier League’s end-season run-in, as teams battle it out for survival relegation. Despite several teams struggling at the bottom of the table, the fight and determination displayed by Palace shows that it’s not over until the last whistle is blown. This sentiment rings true for the Foxes, who have it all to play for in the coming weeks.
Overall, Hodgson’s impressive return to Crystal Palace as their manager is a testament to his experience and tactical acumen. The win over Leicester City could prove to be a turning point in the team’s fortunes, ensuring their survival this season.
.jpeg?resize=150,150){kind=spacer}
