Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has revealed a half-time sprayer from assistant coach Ray Lewington that helped his side kick back from a dour performance in the first half to save a 1-1 draw with Leicester high- fly.
Palace looked well below their best level in the opening verse, conceding a penalty within 20 minutes that Foxes striker Kelechi Iheanacho missed.
But the Guests looked almost certain to extend their awesome defensive record recently, having conceded 10 goals in their last two games.
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Palace came out of the blocks firing in the second half, with Wilfried Zaha heading home to complete a brilliant team move. The late Harvey Barnes strike ensured that a palace-free climb extended to five games, but the struggling side were certainly a much better force after the break – which Hodgson gave as a result of a room spray locker from his assistant.
He said after the game: “I was not happy with the first half and Ray Lewington at half-time was almost critical of what we were doing in that half. Luckily it gave you the effect you were looking for. ”
Hodgson laughed that the Lewington explosion was: “very rare, that’s for sure. I have blamed myself for getting the weird rant lately and I never felt proud of myself after. I was more than happy to let Ray go in the middle of today. “
“I think it made the right impact. I think Ray will have a headache and a very heavy neck tonight but he can at least feel very happy that what he said and asked in the second half was the right thing to do. wanted and was achieved on the playing field. ”
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The cuffed boss also mocked Amazon Prime: ‘Yes of course [positive] in the second half but it almost cost my assistant Ray Lewington a heart attack to make that energy. ”
Palace moved to 13th on the ladder with 19 points, 10 behind Leicester who move to second place with the draw.
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