“We are on a tricky run and need to fight out way out of this form.”
That’s how Alan Pardew is describing his club’s brutal form of early 2016. Crystal Palace has one point in its last seven matches, their streakiness matching what we expected from Pardew when he led Newcastle United through a topsy-turvy few seasons at St. James Park.
[ MATCH RECAP: Crystal Palace 1-2 Watford ]
Pardew says injuries and bad luck have hurt his side, and Yannick Bolasie‘s absence looms large in a midfield-vital Premier League. But Palace has managed just three points since Dec. 26 despite playing a manageable schedule of opponents.
Since beating Stoke at the Britannia on Dec. 19, this is Palace’s Premier League form:
Dec. 26 — 0-0 at Bournemouth
Dec. 28 — 0-0 vs. Swans
Jan. 3 — 0-3 vs. Chelsea
Jan. 12 — 0-1 at Villa
Jan. 16 — 0-4 at Man City
Jan. 23 — 1-3 vs. Spurs
Feb. 2 — 1-2 vs Bournemouth
Feb. 6 — 1-1 at Swans
Feb. 13 — 1-2 vs. Watford
Fortunately for Pardew, he has his old charges in Newcastle, Aston Villa and Norwich City not doing much to threaten a climb out of the drop zone. But Palace has gone from Top Four contender to bottom-half side in a month and a half.
AP: I’m not going to disguise the fact that it’s been a difficult run. #CPFC
— Crystal Palace FC (@CPFC) February 13, 2016
AP: If I thought there was complacency or lack of effort, that would really worry me. The things that worry me are technical issues. #CPFC
— Crystal Palace FC (@CPFC) February 13, 2016
AP: We’ve had terrible injuries that have hurt us, but we haven’t found the balance of the team since the loss of Bolasie & Connor at Stoke.
— Crystal Palace FC (@CPFC) February 13, 2016
