Roy Hodgson says Wilfried Zaha absence not to blame for Crystal Palace loss
Saturday 10 November 2018 21:34, UK
Roy Hodgson refused to blame Crystal Palace's defeat to Tottenham on the absence of Wilfried Zaha, and said the result was tough to take.
Palace have not won a Premier League game without Zaha in the starting line-up since September 2016.
He was missing against Spurs due to a hamstring injury and Palace could not take the chances that fell their way as James Tomkins headed wide from a corner and Alexander Sorloth saw a one-on-one opportunity saved by Hugo Lloris.
Hodgson has now seen his team impress against Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs, yet come away with just one point.
C Palace 0-1 Tottenham
As it happened
He said: "It is very hard when a team does so many good things in terms of their tactical approach, work rate and determination, yet end up losing the game 1-0. There are no words which alter the situation.
"You could cut your work short by quoting everything I said against Chelsea and Arsenal because it is the same situation.
"In each of the three performances, the team has done very well. But that is not going to stop people countering with the fact we lost and haven't scored.
"That is also not going to stop people countering that, 'Wilfried Zaha didn't play, that's why you lost'. I know that's not true, anyone who watched the game will also know that's not true.
"But the fact is we have not won a game without Wilf for god knows how long and this is another one to add to the list."
Palace have not won in seven Premier League matches and are only above the relegation zone on goal difference.
