Crystal Palace emerged with a creditable draw in opposition to West Ham on the weekend, a fixture that’s as notable for having the 2 oldest managers within the Premier League battling it out in opposition to one another as it’s for anything.
It was the third recreation in a row that the Eagles hadn’t managed to win, nonetheless, after Mohammed Kudus recreation the Hammers the lead, the sport might’ve slipped away from the guests.
To Hodgson’s credit score, he managed to encourage his staff to earn a degree, although Odsonne Edouard’s 53rd-minute leveller owed a lot to the lack of Konstantinos Mavropanos’ incapability to clear his strains.
One Palace participant that could possibly be mentioned to have been a shock inclusion was Chris Richards, although he acquitted himself properly in an unfamiliar function.
“I wasn’t anticipating it, however I simply wish to be on the pitch – so no matter it takes!” he mentioned to Palace TV (h/t the official Crystal Palace web site).
“It was one thing! It was a bit extra defensive than something, so I loved that side, however I simply favored being on the pitch and getting a degree.
“There’s a little bit of similarity [to centre-back]. I’m simply not used to the ball going over my head like that, in order that was one thing that took a little bit of getting used to, however I loved it right now.
“I used to be form of shocked to play it, however I really feel like I did fairly properly.”
Unable to push ahead and take all three factors from the London Stadium, Palace’s solitary level noticed them in thirteenth on the finish of play.
Ought to outcomes go in opposition to them, they could possibly be as little as fifteenth after the subsequent spherical of matches.
West Ham in the meantime have a London derby date in opposition to Tottenham with a win probably taking them into the highest seven if Man United are unable to beat Chelsea on Wednesday evening and Brighton stumble in opposition to Brentford.