Soccer Football - Carabao Cup Third Round - Crystal Palace vs Huddersfield Town - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - September 19, 2017 Crystal Palace's Patrick van Aanholt in action with Huddersfield Town’s Rajiv van La Parra and Philip Billing Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
LONDON (Reuters) - Crystal Palace's new manager Roy Hodgson said he could see some light at the end of the tunnel after his first win lifted some of the gloom over Selhurst Park on Tuesday.
Hodgson's first game in charge on Saturday ended in a 1-0 defeat by Southampton, condemning Palace to a fifth successive Premier League loss without scoring a goal.
Bakary Sako's 12th-minute header earned a 1-0 win against Huddersfield Town in the League Cup third round, with Palace having lost to the promoted side on the opening day of the season under Ronald de Boer who was sacked last week.
Soccer Football - Carabao Cup Third Round - Crystal Palace vs Huddersfield Town - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - September 19, 2017 Crystal Palace's Bakary Sako celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
With league games against Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea looming, Palace could be in for more pain but Hodgson took some encouragement from Tuesday's win.
"I'm very pleased with the win and the first half performance, especially after a week's work," he said.
"We still have a lot of work to do tactically with the players until we are satisfied that we can produce the level of the first half performance for a longer period.
Soccer Football - Carabao Cup Third Round - Crystal Palace vs Huddersfield Town - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - September 19, 2017 Huddersfield Town manager David Wagner reacts after the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
"However, it would be very churlish of me not to praise the players and I am very happy with the contribution tonight."
Hodgson has performed relegation-saving marvels at West Bromwich Albion and Fulham but Palace's plight represents a huge challenge for the 70-year-old former England manager.
"You don't repair the damage we've suffered overnight; it's going to be a long, hard process but I know that there's light at the end of the tunnel and saw some shards tonight," he said.
Soccer Football - Carabao Cup Third Round - Crystal Palace vs Huddersfield Town - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - September 19, 2017 Crystal Palace fans Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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