Hodgson's first Palace game

When I saw that it was Roy Hodgson's first game for Crystal Palace, I thought that this would be an excellent opportunity to get a good match write up. Although the match wasn't particularly good itself, it was still a good experience to write about a poor game and to see what I could pull out of it. Here's my match report.

All the talk going into the game on this Saturday lunchtime was on it being Roy Hodgson's first game in the Premier League for five years as he attempted to turn his boyhood club's season around. His first opportunity to do so was against another out of form opposition Southampton under another under pressure manager Mauricio Pellegrino.

Despite a very even start and warm welcome from the home faithful for ex England manager Roy Hodgson, it was Southampton who made the early breakthrough. When Davis received the ball from Redmond, he played in Tadic for what was effectively a one-two as his shot was saved by Hennessy only for it to fall back to Davis who tucked home past the stretching Joel Ward on the line. 1-0 to the Saints.

However the response from Hodgson's men was very poor and Southampton, finding their confidence from the goal, began playing much better football, but they were caught short. Just after the fifteen minute mark, Redmond gave it away after being pressurised by a rare Palace press with Townsend finding Loftus-Cheek who crossed it to Benteke only for him to hit it straight at the keeper. A huge opportunity wasted from Palace to get their first goal of the Premier League season.

That Benteke chance clearly gave Palace the kick up the backside and the urge they'd been lacking as after a lovely one-two between Loftus-Cheek and Benteke in the centre of the Southampton half, the proceeding shot from Loftus-Cheek fell just wide of the Southampton goal. Much better from Palace, but Southampton still the dominant of the two sides.

As quite a lackluster half came to an end, it did have quite a lively finish by this half's standards as after Redmond scuffed a shot which was saved by Hennessy, a Benteke nod on from the resulting goal kick found Townsend who blazed his shot wide. 45 more minutes have passed yet we are still to see a goal from Crystal Palace in the Premier League this season. Will we get one in the second half?

As the second half kicked off, you could instantly see Palace meant business and after only a couple of minutes they were presented with a glorious chance as a misplaced Cabaye pass to Benteke found Schlupp who sqaured it to Puncheon only for a stunning Forster save to prevent Palace from getting the equaliser. An incredible save from Forster as he uses his massive build to desperately spread himself and smother the ball into his arms.

Despite the lively start, that was nearly it for gripping action in the second half and the frustration was evident as boos rang round Selhurst Park as Ruben Loftus-Cheek was brought off. However Southampton did manage to get a very presentable opportunity after Romeu found himself completely free from a corner, only for him to head high and wide. An excellent opportunity for Southampton to finish the game.

However the missed chance didn't end up costing them as the full-time whistle blew with Palace's goalless start to the Premier League continuing, now holding an unwanted record of not scoring for the longest time since the start of a Premier League season ever. Roy Hodgson will definitely be hoping that he gets more time than Frank De Boer did...

MOTM: Mario Lemina

Despite not getting a goal or an assist against Crystal Palace, Lemina absolutely ran the Southampton midfield showing pace, power and passion and excellent passing with the palace midfield of Cabaye and McArthur unable to handle him.