Hodgson upbeat after first win, Latest Football News - The New Paper
Football

Hodgson upbeat after first win

Crystal Palace's new manager Roy Hodgson said he could see some light at the end of the tunnel after his first win lifted some of the gloom over Selhurst Park yesterday morning (Singapore time).

Hodgson's first game in charge on Saturday ended in a 1-0 defeat by Southampton, condemning Palace to a fifth successive English Premier League loss without scoring a goal.

Bakary Sako's 12th-minute header earned a 1-0 win against Huddersfield Town in the League Cup third round, with Palace having lost to the promoted side on the opening day of the season under Frank de Boer who was sacked last week.

With league games against Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea looming, Palace could be in for more pain but Hodgson took some encouragement from yesterday morning's win.

PLAYERS DID WELL

"I'm very pleased with the win and the first-half performance, especially after just a week's work," he said.

"We still have a lot of work to do tactically with the players until we are satisfied that we can produce the level of the first-half performance for a longer period.

"However, it would be very churlish of me not to praise the players and I am very happy with the contribution tonight."

Hodgson has performed relegation-saving marvels at West Bromwich Albion and Fulham, but Palace's plight represents a huge challenge for the 70-year-old former England manager.

"You don't repair the damage we've suffered overnight," he said.

"It's going to be a long, hard process, but I know that there's light at the end of the tunnel and saw some shards tonight." - REUTERS

LEAGUE CUPcrystal palaceroy hodgson