Crystal Palace have got enormous problems defensively admits boss Roy Hodgson, after his side were thumped 6-2 at Barnet on Tuesday night.
The Eagles face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Friday in a pre-season friendly, and owing to an injury crisis were able to call upon just three defenders at The Hive, with goalkeeper Stephen Henderson making his debut following his release by Forest.
Hodgson was forced to use a side mainly made up of players from the Under-23 squad because of the injury issues at Selhurst Park, while the club have as yet been unable to source a replacement for Aaron Wan-Bissaka following his big money move to Manchester United.
Palace were 2-0 up early on against the Bees through David Boateng and Connor Wickham before the hosts levelled before the break.
Henderson’s nightmare evening got worse, conceding four times in the second half as the non-league hosts completed a remarkable turnaround.
"We've got enormous problems at the back at the moment," said Hodgson ahead of the Eagles' first meeting with Forest since a 2-2 draw in 2012.
"We really don't have any defenders, to speak of. Aaron's gone and we've got three others injured.
"We will have to do the best we can to make sure we replace (Wan-Bissaka) in some way."
For their part, Forest were beaten 3-0 in a showpiece friendly game against Greek giants Olympiacos on Tuesday, conceding all three strikes in the opening 32 minutes at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Athens - two of those coming in the first quarter of an hour.
So far in pre-season, the Reds under Sabri Lamouchi have beaten Alfreton Town and Atromitos, drawing with Dundee before the heavy reverse against Olympiacos.
