Roy Hodgson’s second spell accountable for Crystal Palace started with victory because the hosts secured their first three-point haul of 2023 with a dramatic 2-1 win over Leicester City at Selhurst Park.
The Eagles had struggled to attain this season however appeared extra assertive in Hodgson’s first match again within the dugout, together with his facet now firmly entrenched within the relegation battle.
Despite the hosts’ registering 20 photographs by half-time, it was Leicester who broke the impasse by substitute Ricardo Pereira after the restart.
But the Eagles replied nearly immediately when Eberechi Eze’s free-kick took a spark off Foxes goalkeeper Daniel Iversen earlier than entering into.
That appeared to settle the end result till a last-gasp effort by substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta within the fourth minute of added time ensured the hosts walked away deserved winners.
Palace entered the encounter 5 locations above the Foxes within the desk however simply two factors away from their opponents, who have been unbeaten of their final seven conferences with the Eagles.
Hodgson was within the dugout the final time the south London facet beat Leicester, a decisive 4-1 victory at King Power Stadium.
This season Palace had solely managed to attain greater than as soon as six instances of their 28 Premier League matches main as much as Saturday’s contest.
It was an encouraging signal for Hodgson, then, when his facet registered a shot inside seconds of kick-off, Odsonne Edouard feeding Wilfried Zaha whose sharp effort was blocked by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Cheick Doucoure turned the following Eagle to check Iversen with a low strike and the hosts quickly breathed an indication of aid when Victor Kristiansen’s cross clipped the within of the put up earlier than going out.
By the midway level within the interval Palace had extra photographs on the right track – three – than that they had in three consecutive matches in 2023 wherein that they had registered none.
They have been threatening however nonetheless looking for an opener after Joachim Andersen nodded extensive from a set piece and Iversen blocked Edouard’s effort by a crowd.
The hosts appeared near breaking the impasse when Andersen despatched a beautiful ball to Zaha, whose acrobatic try on the again put up as an alternative took a deflection off a participant inside the realm.
There was then an enormous blow to Hodgson’s facet as Zaha keeled over moments earlier than half-time and was in tears as he left the sport with what gave the impression to be a groin harm.
Despite registering simply two photographs to the hosts’ double-digit efforts, Leicester seized on a uncommon alternative 11 minutes after the restart when Timothy Castagne squared the ball again to Pereira, who despatched a shot previous a diving Vicente Guaita into the top-left nook.
Selhurst Park erupted three minutes later as Eze directed a free-kick on the Foxes objective, catching the underside of the crossbar earlier than the ball went in off the unlucky Iversen.
Palace went near going forward within the remaining 10 minutes from one other free-kick however this time Marc Guehi couldn’t hook up with Michael Olise’s supply.
Hodgson’s choice to swap Edouard for Mateta within the 86th minute proved an impressed one because the latter poked residence within the remaining seconds of stoppage time to the delight of the elated crowd and his new supervisor.