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Roy Hodgson hits back at Crystal Palace fans booing him over Eze substitution in defeat at Everton

Roy Hodgson hits back at Crystal Palace fans who were heard booing him over the substitution of Eberechi Eze in the defeat at Everton.

The two sides faced off again on Wednesday night with the FA Cup Third Round tie needing to go to a replay following a 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park in the first meeting.

But it was another frustrating result for the Eagles, with Palace falling to a 1-0 defeat at Goodison Park through Andre Gomes’ powerful free kick on 42 minutes.

The results meant that Everton secured a first third-round victory over top-flight opposition since they beat Sheffield Wednesday in 1988.

Roy Hodgson has had to come out and defend himself, saying while he understands fans’ frustrations, he took issue with being booed and getting chants of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ all because he was, according to the 76 year old, ‘protecting players’.

Hodgson took off Eberechi Eze in the second half, but this didn’t go down well with those in the away end.

Defeat to Everton means that Palace have picked up just two wins from their last 15 fixtures in all competitions.

Now Hodgson’s side get set for a tough game away at Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday.

Hodgson said to BBC Radio London: “If I was a fan, I wouldn’t have wanted to see Eze taken off either,” Hodgson said after the match.

“But we play [Arsenal] at 12.30 on Saturday and we need people like Eze who is one of our very best players.

“I would have loved all of my players to play 95 minutes but unfortunately we decided, in order to protect as many players as we can, that we would replace them with players who also deserved a chance to play.

“We’ve got a lot of players here who haven’t had a chance to show what they can do.

“We keep wanting to see what [Matheus] Franca, [Naouirou] Ahamada & [David] Ozoh can do.

“The chances are with the team we’ve got at the moment their chances in the Premier League might still be few and far between.”

Roy said via cpfc.co.uk: “All defeats are disappointing. I thought this was a game where we probably deserved better than a defeat. I thought that there were an awful lot of positives to our play.

“We decided to change things around a little bit, and it’s interesting how that went. I was very satisfied with the way that went.

“The major problem for us has been that we’ll get home at two ‘o clock this evening [02:00], and at 12:30 we’re playing Arsenal on Saturday. That was our problem in a way. It was a good opportunity to see some of the players who rarely get a chance to play.

“Having said all those things, I still think we were good value for a result here today, but we didn’t get it thanks to an excellent free-kick which [André] Gomes played – that was unstoppable.

“It’s our own fault. If we wanted to progress in the Cup serenely, we’d have won the game at home. We didn’t, we drew 0-0, which forced us into a replay.

“It’s nothing to do with the schedule, it’s just one of those things where as a manager, you have to look at all the possibilities or the options and try to use your squad in the best possible way, while still trying to get a result.

“And I would say, biased as I am, that’s exactly what we did, and I think that today we were very unfortunate not to get a result.

“I thought we did more than enough to cause Everton problems and create goal chances. In the last 30 minutes of the game, we had three or four exceptional goal chances, but we can only blame ourselves we didn’t take them.”

Meanwhile, Everton manager Sean Dyche said as per BBC Sport: “These bits of news coming out are tough,” Dyche said post-match.

“Tough for the Evertonians, tough for the club and tough for myself and the team.

“The mentality has been resolute all season I think – the way the players are going about it. Without finding true fluid play tonight, we still looked solid, and energised and found a way to win the game which is important. In the second half, there was more purpose to our play.

“We’ve not lacked [energy] from a bigger picture perspective, it was just tonight it was a flat atmosphere and flat performance, apart from the goal.

“Second half there was a bit more energy, purpose and fight to see the game through, get a clean sheet and the win.

“We know Gomes has had a really up and down time with injuries.

“I said to him when he came back (in pre-season) I can see him being part of what we do as he was unsure at that time about whether he was going to be here or not.

“We know he can play and it is finding the right spot for him. I don’t think he is true number 10 but we know he can deal with the ball in there and he found his way into the game.”

This is what Twitter users had to say as Roy Hodgson hits back at Crystal Palace fans booing him over the Eze substitution in their defeat at Everton…

@David22937149: Oh yeah cos no doubt we’ll have a right go at Arsenal.

@james_sandford: So out of touch with the fan base. He has prioritised the wrong game and id like to think 99% of fans would agree. In true Palace style we’ll probably get a result at Arsenal now 😂

@p_7_g: We are gonna lose 4-0 anyway. What’s the point? #CPFC🦅

@TheAnfieldVault: You’re not gonna get anywhere having Hodgson as your manager. Take it from a Liverpool fan 😅

@JasonK1973: He brought Eze on during the Man Utd League Cup game, about the 60th minute, when the game was effectively over at 3-0 so that makes no sense. Not to mention the Olise treatment against Brentford, he’s lost it.

@kdmm1000: I’m Palace and my take is that as a fan of any club at any level, you want your team set up to be tactically brave and play on the front foot where possible, Basically have a go. Under Roy it’s the opposite of that, and yes overall it’s boring

@thatmandassey: Gabby is correct. Watching Palace is a chore. Don’t get the excitement I used to have when a game comes around now. Numb to it. We’re not asking for 100m to spend every transfer window; just give us something to be optimistic about. The 2021 Summer window feels like a decade ago

@CpfcBobbydinho: Spot on Gabby. Roy is entrenched in this pragmatic approach of predictability instead of showing some endeavour and going for it in the cups. We’re safe in the league and he should have thrown everything at the cup but that’s now our season done by January

@CPFCMatt7: Genuinely what is the point? If you travelled up then I’m really sorry

@mandyswagsta: Hahahaha I have no words Eze off when we are 1-0 down

@Garrett08979769: We might have to start a gofundme for a new manager

@apfarrington: ROY OUT!!!

@Alitheeagle1: The Arsenal game?? You had half an hour to keep the season alive in terms of interest. Give me strength. #CPFC

@EvilSashPioneer:
Points likely gained at Arsenal without Eze: 0
Points likely gained at Arsenal with Eze: 0

@palacetom99: Fuck the Arsenal game, we want silverware

@DownToTen: This is just so disrespectful to everyone who made the effort to go IMO

@DeePalace_: Parish & Roy out.

@lw_31_: 1-0 down yeah let’s get eze off good one roy…

@Ukhilal1957: Please go Roy

@Luke_Seychell: These three subs just show Roy Hodgson is not bothered about this game. He’s already thinking about Arsenal away. MY GOD, we are so spoilt #CPFC

@simmoshiner1997: Sack him now… Hodgson has lost his mind!!

@NorrisSZN__: Fuck the arsenal game we are getting battered at the emirates anyways we want a cup run

@alex_westry: I knew it. Roy wasn’t trying to win the game he’s more focused on the Premier League.

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