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Tight at the bottom
Returning Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson believes this season’s fierce relegation battle is the tightest ever.
Palace sit 12th in the table but are among nine teams at significant risk of the drop as just four points separate them from rock-bottom Southampton.
Hodgson, 75, is back in the Selhurst Park hotseat having replaced Patrick Vieira, with the South Londoners currently on a dismal winless run of 13 games in 2023.
Ahead of facing fellow relegation rivals Leicester tomorrow, the ex-England boss was asked if he had ever seen a survival scrap so intense.
He responded: “No. I think this season is exceptional in that respect.
“You don’t normally have almost a whole bottom section of the table all fighting to avoid relegation and you certainly don’t see so many teams which most people would say, ‘They can’t get relegated, they’re too big a club to get relegated’.
“I think that’s unusual in that respect this year.
“We go into the last 10 games with a very exciting scenario at both ends because we still aren’t 100% certain who the champions are going to be and who the top four are going to be.
“So there’s an awful lot to play for in these last 10 games.
“But I’ve got to say the only games that will really interest me are the ones that we play and maybe watching the games that our opponents play to get some idea of how good they are.”
Howe will stick to football
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe insists he and his players will focus on matters on the pitch amid ongoing debate over the club’s ownership.
Premier League clubs yesterday unanimously voted to strengthen their owners and directors test with tighter restrictions on human rights abusers.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund hold an 80% stake in the Magpies and Amnesty International has called for its involvement at St James’ Park to be examined.
Toon boss Howe, 45, said: “I don’t think anything will affect the players because we’re used to, me included, headlines and news about ownership and different things.
“But for us, it’s always about the football and it’s always about making sure when we take the pitch, we’re the best team we can be.”
Meanwhile, Howe is hopeful goalkeeper Nick Pope will be fit for Sunday’s crucial top-four clash with Manchester United after pulling out of the England squad last week.
He added: “Nick felt a problem in his thigh after the Wolves game and didn’t train in preparation for the Nottingham Forest game.
“He completed that game with a bit of discomfort, so didn’t train when we were in Dubai.
“He has trained this week, so the signs are good.”
Notts County chief passes away
Notts County chief executive Jason Turner has died at the age of 50, the National League club have announced.
A statement said: “We are devastated to report the loss of our much-loved chief executive, Jason Turner.
“Jason, who passed away suddenly last night, was appointed in 2016 and devoted himself to the club thereafter.
“He was an outstanding CEO who was respected across football having also worked for Bath City, Newport County, Plymouth Argyle and Cardiff City.”
