Leicester 1-4 Crystal Palace: Five things learned as Eagles pile pressure on Puel

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Crystal Palace inflicted yet another defeat on Leicester City putting the future of their manager Claude Puel in doubt.

Roy Hodgson’s men ran out 4-1 victors with goals via Michy Batshuayi, his first since joining from Chelsea on loan, Wilfried Zaha (brace) and penalty master Luka Milivojević.

As the Londoners celebrated there were long faces among Leicester’s faithful with many of them already turning on Puel whose job is close to being untenable following a horrid run of form that has dropped them close to the relegation zone.

Here are five things we learned.

1. Batshuayi returns

It remains to be seen whether Michy Batshuayi’s long-term future is at Chelsea, but for now all his efforts will be towards ensuring Crystal Palace finish as high in the league as possible as well as reaching yet another FA Cup final.

His fortunate goal, deflecting a James McArthur strike four minutes before the interval, was the Belgian’s first in the Premier League since bagging a brace from the bench against Watford in October 2017. Curiously his last three league goals have now come in three different competitions: Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga.

2. Puel in trouble

No one can ever take away what Leicester City achieved in 2015/16 when they defied all the odds to become Premier League champions. However, this current incarnation under Claude Puel is a far cry from Claudio Ranieri’s counter specialists, though it was always inevitable. Puel to his credit is trying to forge the club in his image, but modern football is remorseless, more than ever are wins important.

This latest setback means they’ve now gone six league matches without registering a victory – not since October 2017 have the Foxes been on such a meek run. Also since beating the champions Manchester City they’ve gone on to lose five consecutive home games against Cardiff City (0-1), Southampton (1-2), Manchester United (0-1) and now Palace (1-4) – not since the 1999/2000 season have they suffered such a run.  It will no doubt intensify the vocal resentment towards Puel in the stands. His substitutions in this game didn’t particularly go down too well.

3. Away comforts

It’s now an understatement to suggest Palace are potent on the road. Hodgson’s men after their opening 27 league outings have bagged 31 goals, not an impressive return, but it becomes so when you factor they’ve only scored nine of those (across 13 games) at Selhurst Park – only Huddersfield (six goals in 14 matches) been poorer at home.

Such an incredible return means 71% of their goals (22/31) have come on the road giving The Eagles the highest such ratio in the Premier League. Wilfried Zaha, seen as the club’s most important player, sums this statistic up with five of his six goals coming away from Holmesdale. Goals aside, this was only Palace’s fifth away win of the season, which is level with Arsenal and more than Everton (three).

4. Palace’s favourite trip

Continuing the away theme it’s worth looking at the historical ramifications. Heading into the weekend Palace had won each of their last three Premier League games against Leicester, by an aggregate score of 9-0. Make that now four in a row, with the aggregate score climbing to 13-1.

They’ve only won more top-flight games in a row against Wimbledon (five). Going a little further Palace have added the King Power Stadium to their favourite stadium. They’ve won as many games there as Goodison Park (four each).

5. Hodgson creates history

Sir Matt Busby once declared “If you’re good enough, you’re old enough”. He was, of course, referring to the plethora of youngsters coming through under his watch at Manchester United. But this adage can also apply at the other end of the age spectrum. Much is made of a managers age, like there’s a set date they can’t breach, though we’ve seen all too often that is never the case. Only when a football lover stops enjoying the game is when it’s time to call it quits.

That day is yet to come for Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson, who started his management career 43 years ago. When taking up his seat against Leicester City the Croydon-born tactician made a new piece of Premier League history. At the tender age of 71 years and 198 days old he overtook the esteemed Sir Bobby Robson, who was 71 years and 192 days old on his last game in charge, to become the league’s oldest manager.

The post Leicester 1-4 Crystal Palace: Five things learned as Eagles pile pressure on Puel appeared first on Squawka News.



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