A year ago Crystal Palace got their season on track with a win at Chelsea and Roy Hodsgon will need his side to replicate last year’s heroics ahead of tough run
It was this time last year that Crystal Palace began to stop the rot following a dismal first seven games of the season that left them bottom of the Premier League with no points and no goals.
A shock win at home to Chelsea in mid-October proved the catalyst for improvement.
Palace went from strength to strength under the new leadership of Roy Hodgson, who guided them to a remarkable run of eight games unbeaten in the build-up to Christmas, and ultimately finished in 11th place.
The Eagles could do with a similar upturn in form now as they sit 15th, just two points above the relegation zone.
Hodgson – a hero last year as he saved his boyhood club from the drop – may need a similar watershed moment against one of the Big Six this time around, with Palace facing four of them in their next four games, starting with Arsenal on Sunday.
Following the Gunners, Palace, who have lost their last three league games, then meet Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United to round off a nightmare November.
The 71-year-old’s stock rose again as he re-established himself as a top-level manager following his Euro 2016 humiliation with England but, with that honeymoon period over, the pressure is beginning to mount as Palace slip back down the table.
The month of November has become notorious for managerial sackings as owners become fearful of relegation and Hodgson could be looking over his shoulder if his side continue to struggle.
Last season five clubs had already parted ways with their managers by the end of November, including Palace, who have shown they have a ruthless streak.
Frank de Boer was dismissed last season after losing his opening four games, while the other casualties were Craig Shakespeare at Leicester, Ronald Koeman at Everton, Slaven Bilic at West Ham and Tony Pulis at West Brom.
Palace also cut ties with Alan Pardew in December 2016 after one win in 11 matches left them one point above the drop zone, and they sacked Neil Warnock after just 17 games, following a poor start to the season in 2014.
If the Eagles are to turn things around this year they will have to rectify their issues in front of goal.
The last three defeats in the league have been by close margins, but Hodgson’s men have only scored twice since the start of September.
Luka Milivojevic epitomised the club’s goalscoring difficulties when he missed from the penalty spot against Everton with the game still at 0-0, before Palace went onto concede two late goals.
“The fact is you have to take your chances,” Hodsgon observed after the loss.
Wilfried Zaha is the club’s only attacking player to score in the league this season, netting three of their five goals so far. Patrick van Aanholt and Jeffrey Schlupp contributed the other two.
Christian Benteke’s woes in front of goal have continued into the new season, although the Belgian is out until the new year after knee surgery, while more recent additions Jordan Ayew and Alexander Sorloth have had little to no impact so far.
There was some positive news as fellow striker Connor Wickham made his long-awaited return with a cameo appearance at Goodison Park, but the 25-year-old will need time to regain his match fitness having played just eight league games in the last two seasons.
The visit of Arsenal could hardly have come at a worse time, with Unai Emery’s side the league’s in-form team, having won their last seven games.
The Gunners look reinvigorated under their new manager and – in stark contrast to Palace – have found the net eight times in their last last two top-flight matches.
Just as they did this time last season, Palace desperately need some positive results if they are to start moving up the table.
If Hodgson can draw on inspiration from their stoic performances against Chelsea and Manchester City last year and repeat the trick, it would also ease concerns about his own position.
Fail to do so, however, and it could turn sour at Selhurst Park.