When Roy Hodgson turned up for a second stint in charge at Crystal Palace, few would have expected the club to amass more points than most other sides in the league.
But that is exactly what has transpired, with Palace taking 17 points from a possible 27 under Hodgson, ending relegation fears just a matter of weeks after the 75-year-old took over two months ago.
Under Patrick Vieira, Palace did not win any of their 13 matches in 2023 and were sleepwalking into a relegation battle, but the change in management has revitalised their season, leaving them 13 points clear of trouble up in 11th.
Matching or bettering Chelsea’s result on the final day will secure their spot in 11th, and in doing so, recording their joint-best Premier League finish in eight seasons.
There is a high possibility of that happening too, considering Palace are unbeaten here at Selhurst Park since Hodgson returned, taking 10 points from a possible 12 at home.
The form of Eberechi Eze has been paramount to that success, both here and on the road, as six goals and one assist in his last eight appearances earned the 24-year-old an England call up this week.
Eze’s 10 goals this season is double what he managed in his first two seasons at Palace combined, showing that the midfielder is flourishing under Hodgson’s stewardship.
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Another anecdote which will give the Eagles faithful confidence ahead of this clash is that they have not lost any of their last 10 matches on the final day when playing at home, winning seven.
After taking just three points from 11 games between early February and late April, Nottingham Forest looked bang in trouble heading into the final stretch of the season.
However, form at the City Ground has single-handedly kept Steve Cooper’s side in the Premier League against the odds this season.
