Hodgson steps down as Palace boss after just 11 month reign - the stats behind his Eagles return

It was a surprising decision when last March Crystal Palace sacked Patrick Vieira and brought 75-year-old Roy Hodgson back to Selhurst Park as the new boss. The veteran tactician then silenced his critics when he steadied the ship in South London and steered Palace away from the relegation battle and into a respectable 11th place finish. However, this season he has failed to replicate the impact he made on his return, and a dismal run of form has seen the Eagles fall to 16th. The style of football has also been uninspiring - only the three teams in the relegation zone have scored fewer than Hodgson's team this season. During the 5-0 defeat to Arsenal last month, supporters in the away end were holding up huge banners aiming criticism at both the team and the club's ownership.

On Monday, the Premier League side confirmed that Hodgson had stepped down from his role as club manager. “This club is very special and means so much to me and has played a big part in my footballing life," said the head coach in a statement on the club website. "I have fully enjoyed my time here across six seasons, as it has given me the chance to work with top class players and staff doing what I love every day. However, I understand, given recent circumstances, it may be prudent at this time for the club to plan ahead, and therefore I have taken the decision to step aside so that the club can bring forward their plans for a new manager, as intended for this summer."

Club chairman Steve Parish added: “Roy has a special place in Crystal Palace history and this will never be forgotten. After four years in which he led the club to maintaining Premier League status season after season, he once again joined us nearly a year ago to steady the ship, and worked wonders. That he then agreed to continue in the summer speaks volumes about his commitment to our club. Quite simply, we owe our continued Premier League status to Roy."

Stats behind Hodgson's second reign at Crystal Palace

When Hodgson took the reins as Palace manger for the second time last March, the club were in 12th place, but only three points clear of the relegation zone. And with many teams behind them in the table had games in hand to play. The troubled side had also just lost four consecutive games and hadn't won in 12 matches. His first game was a 2-1 win against relegation rivals Leicester City, and that was followed up with a 5-1 away win at fellow strugglers Leeds United.

Before Hodgson's appointment, Palace were averaging 0.96 points per game. For the rest of the season under the experienced Englishmen, Palace were averaging 1.8 ppg. They were both more structured defensively and much more potent going forward under the former England boss' stewardship. Palace goals scored per game went from 0.79gpg to 1.8gpg, and their goals conceded went from 1.36gpg to 1.3gpg. In 10 games Hodgson done a superb job, but it was still seen by many supporters at the time as an uninspired appointment, and it felt as though if results weren't going well this season, it wouldn't take long for the tide to turn on Hodgson.

This season Palace started the season fairly well taking seven points from their opening four games, and only losing to title challengers Arsenal in that period. They followed that up with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford in late September. However since that result, the South London side have won just three games from 18 games. They are currently the fourth lowest scorers in the division with an average of just 1.13 goals per game. Up the other end goals are being shipped in at an alarming rate too. In fact, 18th place Everton have conceded 11 goals fewer than the Eagles this season. As such, the decision to replace Hodgson with another manager now makes plenty of sense. 

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