De Boer odds-on to depart this week

DESPITE a much-improved performance Crystal Palace fell to their fourth defeat of the season without scoring a goal, and after their 1-0 reverse at Burnley manager Frank de Boer is odds-on with Hills to be gone before Saturday’s home clash with Southampton.

Palace fell behind after just three minutes when a wayward back pass from Lee Chung-Yong was pounced upon by Chris Wood for the only goal.

From then on Palace were the dominant team, with 65 per cent of the possession and winning 13 corners to three.

But they failed to make it count and Hills now go 4-7 that De Boer is gone by Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off while it’s 5-4 that he is still in the hotseat.

The Dutchman is 1-4 to be the first manager out the door this season, but he was quick to seize on the positives after the Turf Moor setback.
“I am disappointed about the result but I am not disappointed about how we played,” said De Boer.

“I think this is the starting point, because usually if you create that many chances against any opponent you get what you deserve, and today we didn’t.”

Palace are 13-8 to be relegated while Swansea have been trimmed to 2-1 after a 1-0 home defeat to Newcastle.

Magpies skipper Jamaal Lascelles headed home the only goal of the game 15 minutes from time at the Liberty Stadium having earlier made a vital goalline clearance at the other end.

Newcastle are 9-2 from 3-1 for the drop after their second win of the season.