Crystal Palace have not made fight easy ahead of daunting fixtures, says Roy Hodgson

Roy Hodgson admits Crystal Palace have made things difficult for themselves ahead of a daunting run of games after the international break.

Palace lost 1-0 to Wolves at Selhurst Park on Saturday and are just four points above the relegation zone.

They are without a win in three Premier League matches and face Everton, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United next.

Hodgson said: “We knew this season was going to be a fight and the fight continues. We have not made that fight easier for ourselves by losing at home to teams that we think should be around us in the table. You can argue that we have not done well against the ones around us, maybe we will do better against the ones at the top.”

Palace have now failed to score in their four home matches this season and their lack of goals is a concern for Hodgson.

They have scored just three times in seven games since their win at Fulham on the opening day and fired another blank against Wolves.

Hodgson said: “Last year people would like to think it was something magical, it wasn’t. It was hard work on the training field, and that is what we continue to do. I believe we play better football than we were doing at this time last year.

“But last year we were winning the odd game and this time we are not.”