Hodgson believes home form key to top ten ambitions with Palace

Roy Hodgson has outlined his ambitions for his Crystal Palace side as he looks for a strong second half to the season.

Speaking ahead of his sides clash with Watford this weekend Hodgson stated:

“We believe a top ten finish is a distinct possibility, at least it’s got to be a goal for us. We know that every time we play against a team that is certainly not one of the ones that no one gives us any chance of beating, at home we need to take full advantage of that and win the game.

“The pressure is there, it always will be, but the players I think are capable of assuming that responsibility.”

The former Liverpool, West Brom and England manager is clearly confident of securing the Eagles’ first top ten finish since the 2014/15 season.

His side finished last season very strongly with four wins and a draw from their last five fixtures securing them 11th place, whilst also ending level on point with tenth placed Newcastle United.

His Palace team currently sit in 14th, six points off West Ham in tenth with 22 points from their opening 21 league games.

Palace’s ambitions may be helped by the return of Belgium international striker Christian Benteke to the squad to face Watford, with the former Liverpool and Aston Villa strikers goals being sorely missed at Selhurst Park.

Hodgson will feel as though if he can get the big Belgian back to his best, when he netted 15 goals during the 2016/17 season, then Palace can achieve their aims of a top half finish.

The Eagles’ manager alluded to the importance of picking up points at Selhurst in the Premier League, a ground that has become notoriously difficult for away sides to come in order to challenge further up the table.

Their managers opinions are supported by the home form table for the 2018/19 season so far. Crystal Palace sit 17th, having only mustered two victories in ten matches at home this season.

This form includes dropped points at home to Cardiff, Newcastle and Southampton in games they would expect victories from if they wish to separate themselves from the relegation scrap below them.

The Palace faithful will hope they can improve their home form this weekend against Javi Gracia’s Watford as they look to better last season points total of 48.