Under-fire Hodgson is banking on Olise return

WHEN Crystal Palace turned to Roy Hodgson to guide them to safety last season, chairman Steve Parish said the veteran manager's "experience and knowledge of the club" would likely bring immediate results.

To the credit of both men, it did, Hodgson masterminding five wins and three draws in 10 games to hoist Palace from relegation danger to a comfortable 11th-place finish.

But a poor run of just one win in 12 matches has left Palace nervously looking over their shoulder again.

The Eagles have slipped to 15th - only five points clear of the bottom three and their 5-0 thrashing at Arsenal last time out added to the scrutiny on their manager.

Hodgson insists he has not held talks with Parish over his future, but he is thin ice ahead of what feels like a huge match at Selhurst Park tonight.