Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson was again left to bemoan his side’s lack of firepower as their home woes continued in their League Cup penalty shoot-out defeat against Colchester.
Despite making 10 changes from their win at Manchester United, Hodgson had a side more than capable of dealing with their League Two opponents. The visitors, though, cracked the code to foil Palace at home.
During Hodgson’s first season in charge, in 2017-18, Palace used to draw strength from playing at Selhurst Park as countless late goals secured vital points.
Now, however, it has become a ground where Palace have won just five of their last 20 League games, scoring just 19 goals. With a forward line shy on goals and confidence, Palace lacked the ideas and wit needed to break through a deep defensive line last night.
“It isn’t easy to create chances against packed defences,” said Hodgson. “Sometimes the individual ability of certain players is needed, some extra technical quality is needed.
“Sometimes the goalkeeper pulls off a save, or the defender makes a block, but it can be that however concentrated they are, they can’t deal with some situations because the quality is so good.
“We see it all the time with the top teams, and people ask, why can’t you do that?
“But I think the answer is pretty obvious. We aren’t blessed with that firepower and we will just have to keep working hard and as best as we can to get what we can.”
Summer signing Victor Camarasa, making his debut having been absent from the matchday squads at Old Trafford and Sheffield United, came closest to breaking the deadlock for Palace.
The Spaniard saw an early effort saved by goalkeeper Dean Gerken before he ended a fine driving run by setting up Christian Benteke but it required a better finish from the Belgian.
Hodgson introduced Wilfried Zaha and Jordan Ayew from the bench in the second half in an attempt to find the breakthrough but still his side came up short. In the resultant shoot-out, Andros Townsend missed the opening spot-kick for Palace.
“I believe that the team we put out would be capable of wining the game, it was important for some players to get a chance to show what they can do,” Hodgson said.
Aston Villa, fresh from a 6-1 drubbing of Crewe in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening, visit Palace this weekend and Hodgson is in desperate need of someone willing to step up and spark Selhurst Park into life once more.
