Roy Hodgson concerned about Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park form as Everton win five-goal thriller

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson admitted he is concerned about his side’s home form after their 3-2 defeat at Selhurst Park to Everton on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors took the lead in the first minute when Palace failed to clear their lines and Jack Harrison crossed for Vitalii Mykolenko to beat Joel Ward in the air and score.

Palace quickly equalised when Eberechi Eze drove into the penalty area and Jarrad Branthwaite brought the Greenwich-born attacker down inside the box. Eze cooly converted past Jordan Pickford to bring the game level.

Abdoulaye Doucoure put Everton back ahead just after the start of the second half when Mykolenko’s volley from the edge of the box hit Sam Johnstone’s post and fell to the midfielder just in front of goal to score.

Odsonne Edouard equalised for the Eagles when he collected Jefferson Lerma’s header back into the back and finished beyond Pickford.

The Eagles have only won once at home this season – a 3-2 win over Wolves.

“Of course – I’m very concerned,” said Hodgson of his side’s exploits in SE25 this season.

“I thought that when we equalised – and we had to work very hard for that equaliser – that we have done very well to come back from those two very cold showers at that start of each half and get ourselves a point from the game.

“If we’re sensible and continue to play some sensible football, we might even get a winner.

“I wasn’t hellbent on a winner at the expense of opening ourselves up for the third goal.

“We conceded a third goal because we didn’t defend one of the attacks well enough.

“I’m sad and frustrated. We had to come from behind twice and work very hard to do that.

“We put in a very good effort. To concede a third goal and lose the game was hard to take.”

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD