Three things Roy Hodgson needs to fix to keep Crystal Palace in the Premier League

Crystal Palace fans cannot wait to get to Selhurst this weekend as they look forward to catching a glimpse of what the second Roy Hodgson era will look like.

The returning Palace boss has already called on the fans to be the 12th man, describing them as “vital” with the mood at their Beckenham training base already feeling lighter and more relaxed than it was before his appointment.

The game against Leicester promises to give an insight into what the remaining nine games will look like with Premier League survival the only focus according to 75-year-old Hodgson.

Reports claimed Patrick Vieira’s last weeks at the club felt stale and the appointment of Roy has lifted moods and re-energised a squad that looked destined for the fall a few weeks back.

So ahead of the game this weekend, here are three things the experienced Hodgson needs to get right if he’s to keep the Eagles in the Premier League for another season.

Get the players to work more off the ball

One of the damning numbers the Eagles have this season is that fact that they’re bottom of the Premier League distance covered stats.

Only 1438.5 distance covered by a team that prides itself in hard work and determination. The immediate task for Roy will be to get the players committed to running more and working harder when they don’t have the ball.

The squad at his disposal are definitely capable of more than pulling themselves out of the mess they’re currently in, and Leicester might be the best opponents to play at the moment, no Premier League team gives opponents big chances like the Foxes- and the extra carrot of excitement of Selhurst might just yield the first league win of the year.

Settle on a striker and build his confidence

Wilfried Zaha is the club’s highest scorer with six Premier League goals, Odssone Edoaurd, marginalised in Vieira’s last few weeks as he demanded more from the french striker has three, while both Ayew and Mateta with just the one league goal.

Zaha has gone 10 games now without a goal and needs to find his scoring boots but Roy should pick a starting forward and stick with them, build their confidence as all the strikers are more than capable of hitting form and getting the job done when trusted and given a good run in the team.

Goals win games, which then secures Premier League survival and getting this right will be half the job done, as goal scoring was one of the puzzles Vieira could not just unlock this season.

Palace have had only 110 shots at goal so far, and became the first Premier League side to go three games without a shot at goal in Vieira’s last days. This area needs an uplift.

Restore Selhurst as a fortress

Crystal Palace have picked up only 17 points from 14 home games this season, only Bournemouth 16, Leicester City 12 and Southampton 10 have picked up less points at home.

Up-coming home games against Leicester and Everton provide a perfect opportunity to get a winning run going at home, that will be key to survival and restoring faith within the fanbase.

During Roy Hodgson’s first four year spell at the club, he always leaned heavily on his home form and getting back to basics and winning home matches will silence the critics and improve feeling around the club.