February 1 2018

Palace

With only a handful of games left, can Crystal Palace steer clear of the relegation zone? John Winter asks.

The Premier League table looks much better for Palace fans than it did before Roy Hodgson’s appointment, but they must remember a run of good results doesn’t mean that they are necessarily safe.

The Current Situation

Hodgson has definitely shaken things up at Selhurst Park after the Eagles had failed to score a goal in their opening seven league games of the season. It was a huge surprise to see them beat Chelsea, the current champions, 2-1 after a dry spell. This provided a much-needed confidence boost and set them on their way to a better campaign.

Palace have an opportunity to open up a significant gap between themselves and the drop zone. However, a loss or draw against Newcastle this Sunday could see them dragged even closer to the bottom three.

The good news for Eagle fans is they’re definitely not favourites to move down a division, with Betsafe putting them at 10/1 for relegation (visit the website to see the odds and all the latest football betting tips). While the days of Frank de Boer are long gone, Hodgson is steering them away from relegation, but they can’t afford to become complacent.

The most promising thing for Hodgson since he took over is the sheer potential of players at his disposal, with some brilliant attacking players in his squad. These are complemented by defenders that know the top-flight like their back of their hands, two of the perfect ingredients for ensuring league survival. The midfield is also very competent, as they have shown on multiple occasions this term, and if Palace can click, it’s clear they have the talent to match it with the big clubs.

Crystal Palace Standout

You would be hard pushed to pick out a better player for the Eagles this season than Wilfried Zaha. The Ivory Coast international has stated that, despite his great form so far during the current campaign, his best is yet to come.

Despite scoring just four goals and registering one assist this season, it is the work ethic and desire showed by the former Manchester United winger that makes him Palace’s stand-out player.

The main criticism of Zaha’s career up until this point has been his apparent lack of effort and attitude. Although, it seems like the wise words of Roy have got him back on track. Hopefully, the stern talk doesn’t come back to haunt Hodgson, as his prized asset might be the subject of some interest this coming summer.

According to whoscored.com, Zaha has averaged a match rating of 7.17 over the course of his 18 league appearances this term. This makes him the seventh best winger in the Premier League, based purely on average match rating. That’s a very good statistic considering he is playing in a side that has been struggling to create attacking openings throughout the campaign.

It seems like every time the Eagles go forward, Zaha is at the forefront of the attack. While he struggled during his time at Old Trafford, it would be interesting to see how he would get on at a big club now with his increased maturity. However, it’s safe to say Zaha will need to play a huge role if his side is looking to confirm their Premier League status between now and the end of the season.

A Tough Run Home

While Palace’s next games are against sides close to them on the table, beyond that the going gets tough. They face three of the top six teams, hosting Tottenham and Man United, before travelling to West London to battle Chelsea.

These matches will be a real test of the Eagles’ character, as they won’t be expected to take anything from those fixtures. Without taking any points, the Eagles are staring down the barrel, as teams around them are bound to pick up a couple of points.

The matches against Newcastle and Everton, are must-win games. While none of these are seen as easy, they are certainly winnable. If the Eagles can take six points from the upcoming matches, it would put them in good stead before facing the top clubs.

Finishing the Season Off Strong

In their current position, and with the players they have at their disposal, Palace should have no problems avoiding the bottom three. However, poor form in the coming matches will be their downfall. While they had a disappointing start to the season, the Eagles now need to show a level of professionalism against some tough opponents.

If Zaha can stay fit, and the Eagles take a few points in their coming matches, they should be able to keep their head above water and consolidate their place in the Premier League.