Crystal Palace suffered their fifth straight Premier League defeat of the new season as the appointment of new manager Roy Hodgson failed to give them the boost required, losing 1-0 to Southampton.
Palace, who are yet to score in the league this season, sacked Dutchman Frank de Boer after just four games and 77 days in charge during the week and will have been hoping to lift the fans with a win over Mauricio Pellegrino’s side – who were yet to score away from home before coming to south London
However, the Eagles were behind early when Saints skipper Steven Davis finished from Wayne Hennessey’s parry inside ten minutes following some smart work down the right from Dusan Tadic.
That right wing would cause Palace problems all afternoon with Saints duo Cedric Soares and Tadic getting plenty of joy from left-back Jeffrey Schlupp, and it could have been far more than one if it weren’t for a poor display of crossing from the visitors.
Hodgson will, like his predecessor during their loss to Burnley last weekend, feel unlucky as he watched Christian Benteke and Jason Puncheon both fail to convert golden chances from close range in either half, with Fraser Forster back in form and on hand to keep a third clean sheet of the season.
Since his appointment Hodgson has talked time and again about his addiction to working on the training ground day in, day out. It’s a good job he enjoys it as the former England boss has a lot of work to do with this Palace side if they are to avoid the drop.
