Crystal Palace prepare for daunting Manchester United trip with a behind-closed-doors friendly against Bromley

Crystal Palace have arranged a behind-closed-doors friendly against National League side Bromley as manager Roy Hodgson runs the rule over his struggling squad.

Palace remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League after their 5-0 defeat at Manchester City on Saturday and they are now the first Premier League club to lose their opening six matches without scoring.

Hodgson will use Wednesday’s fixture at their Beckenham training ground to give a run-out to players who have had limited game time this season.

The manager, two weeks into his new job, is assessing his options with Palace in the midst of a testing run of fixtures as they go to Manchester United on Saturday and host champions Chelsea on October 14. .

Bromley are 10th in the National League and lost 2-1 to Halifax Town on Saturday. Hodgson criticised his players for their “unacceptable” second half capitulation at the Etihad