Roy Hodgson says Crystal Palace win over Chelsea not season-defining

By Calum Wilson

Thursday 19 October 2017 15:58, UK

Roy Hodgson says that last weekend's win over Chelsea is not a season-defining moment for Crystal Palace.

Palace, who started the season with seven straight defeats, beat Antonio Conte's side 2-1 thanks to a first-half strike from Wilfried Zaha.

Hodgson replaced Frank de Boer as Palace boss last month but the former England manager lost his first three games in charge prior to the surprise triumph over their London rivals.

Despite the positive result against the champions, Hodgson insists he does not believe the victory will guarantee a change in fortunes long term.

"I don't think there are season starting moments," said Hodgson. "For me, the season started on the fifth game of the season. I'm four games into what I consider my season with the club and I think it's very important that we don't start thinking that there are epiphany moments."

Crystal Palace travel to St James' Park on Saturday to face Rafa Benitez's in-form Newcastle and Hodgson is expecting a tough game.

"They're a good footballing team," said Hodgson. "I watched them play against Southampton and they were every bit as good as I expected them to be from the glimpses I'd seen of them on the television.

"They're a well-organised team with a clear idea of what they want to do with or without the ball.

"Playing at Newcastle is like coming here to Selhurst Park, it's a fanatical atmosphere. It's always a chore or a challenge when you go up to Newcastle however well they are playing."

Palace will be without long-term injury sufferers Christian Benteke and Connor Wickham, but Hodgson is hopeful of getting the Belgium international back in the side sooner rather than later.

"They both seem to be progressing," said Hodgson. "I've spoken to Christian a couple of times, he's feeling very confident, he's thinking he's ahead of schedule but what the schedule really is, who can say?"