Crystal Palace stats which prove Patrick Vieira’s Eagles are in a relegation fight

Crystal Palace are just five points better off than 18th placed Everton on the league table and are still not looking like a team that can win a football match this year.

The defeat at Villa Park means they are still without a league win since new year’s eve and strikers have their confidence below the belly of a snake.

This season, no club has scored fewer than the nine goals the Eagles have managed from open play and with games against title chasing Manchester City, a Brighton and Hove Albion side that have lost only one in their last 10 games- and Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, this month could prove pivotal for many reasons including their Premier League safety.

The atmosphere at Selhurst is growing increasingly frustrating with moans every now and then but the players who were exceptional last season are also struggling while recruitment hasn’t helped entirely.

But manager Patrick Viiera is adamant that the way back to form is “belief”, the need to continue to plough away and find confidence within themselves.

“It’s about us believing in what we are doing. It’s about us being clear about the roles and responsibilities of players on the field,” Vieira told reporters after the narrow defeat to Aston Villa over the weekend.

“There is always belief and confidence in the players.”

The Eagles have won six league games all season, the same as 19th placed Southampton and drawn nine, with only Brentford’s 11 being the highest.

Against Manchester City this weekend, they will be without their most important midfielder Cheick Doucoure who was sent off against Villa last weekend.

The experienced James McArthur did make his return from long-term injury while Arsenal loanee Albert Sambi Lokonga seems to be finding his feet in south London.

Vieira has his work cut out and will need to dig deep to get his team out of the hole they find themselves in or the alarm bells could be ringing.