20 January 2024 , 15:51
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Roy Hodgson says furious Crystal Palace fans "are entitled to their opinions" after a humiliating 5-0 defeat at Arsenal piled the pressure on the veteran manager.
Gunners substitute Gabriel Martinelli scored a late double to consign Palace to a crushing loss at the Emirates, with defender Gabriel, a Dean Henderson own goal and Leandro Trossard also contributing to a comfortable three points for the hosts. It was a humiliating day for the Eagles, with away supporters raising banners protesting against the direction of their club.
An organised protest by Palace fans saw them unfurl a large banner which read: "Wasted potential. On and off the pitch, weak decisions. Taking us backwards." The Eagles were dumped out of the FA Cup by Everton during the week and this latest Premier League defeat now leaves them just five points above the relegation zone, having won just one of their last 11 top-flight matches.
The thrashing has increased calls for the club's owners to replace Hodgson and, following the defeat, the 76-year-old said: "They are entitled to their opinions. They are frustrated, disappointed and probably angry. We haven't been able to do as well as they would like, one understands that.
"Crystal Palace fans have dragged us through many difficult situations and helped us to survive at moments when survival looked difficulty. We can only hope we can do better and provide them with what they hope to see, which is win more games and move away from the relegation zone.
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"We are going through a very bad spell, no doubt about it. We were hoping this year to kick on, it has not happened. There are reasons for it, it is not quite as simplistic as all that but the fans are always entitled to their opinions. They care and want to see a strong Crystal Palace team. At the moment they have seen a team outplayed today by a superior opponent and they are entitled to make their feelings felt.
“There are times when we look at it from our position with the team and myself what more could we do with the people we are trying to put onto the pitch to try and get results, it is not always that easy.
An organised protest by Palace fans saw them unfurl this large banner (PA)“As far as I am concerned the fans are entitled to the opinions they have. I am pretty certain now they will let the club know." Asked whether he was frustrated by a lack of financial backing by the club's owners, Hodgson added: "No, not particularly because I went into the job with my eyes open.
"I knew what my job was and knew it wasn't to come in with a big treasure chest. I knew it was going to be working with what we have here, trying to continue keeping that team and at least heading towards the middle of the table. That was complicated by the long-term injuries we have had but I am hoping when those injuries are not part of the equation we will do better."