The last time Crystal Palace won a Premier League game without Wilfried Zaha, Alan Pardew was a manager, Barack Obama was president of the United States and Theresa May had just warned Brexit would not be “plain sailing” for Britain in her first major interview since becoming Prime Minister.
That was back in September 2016, when Palace beat Sunderland 3-2. Since then, Palace’s record without Zaha reads: played 14, lost 14.
It is a staggering statistic and the Eagles must find a way to end that dire run tomorrow or they will go into the festive period deep in relegation trouble.
Zaha is suspended for Palace’s home game against Leicester after being booked for the fifth time this season, at West Ham last weekend.
His absence has added to the growing problems facing Palace at a time when Roy Hodgson is going through arguably his toughest period since taking over at Selhurst Park.
Palace sit just two points above the bottom three after a run of one win in 10 matches. Their form is becoming a real concern and the players are conscious of the record without Zaha.
He has so often been the man they have looked to in their time of need but Hodgson has spent hours this week working on a plan to win without their talisman.
Jordan Ayew looks the most likely player to come into the side to replace Zaha. He partnered Andros Townsend up front when Zaha was absent against Tottenham last month and Hodgson clearly sees him as a better option than Alexander Sorloth, even though the on-loan Swansea man is yet to score in 12 games since moving to Palace in the summer.
Sorloth, meanwhile, has struggled since he joined Palace for £9million from Danish club FC Midtjylland last January and he is yet to start a Premier League game this season.
The Norway international was left on the bench when Palace were searching for a goal at West Ham last weekend, an indication of the lack of faith Hodgson has in him.
Connor Wickham this week gave Hodgson a boost after he scored on his return from injury for Palace Under-23s and he could feature at some point tomorrow.
Wickham is unlikely to be fit to start, however, after being dogged by injuries and playing just two minutes of first-team football since he suffered a serious knee problem two years ago,
There is no doubt Palace will miss Zaha but he has actually failed to score in his last 10 matches.
Former Eagles manager Sam Allardyce does not think Hodgson is getting the best out of the Ivory Coast international by playing him as a centre-forward.
“I do not think that Wilf is a natural frontman,” said Allardyce, who was in charge of the club for five months following his appointment in December 2016.
“He can do it, Richarlison has done it for Everton and is scoring goals, but I do not think Wilf is going to get 15 to 18 goals so he is better out wide. He gets more of the ball out there because of his dribbling and gets involved more.”
As well as being without Zaha, Palace will also be missing the suspended James Tomkins against Leicester.
Scott Dann is pushing for a return after a year out with a knee injury and the defender has told Hodgson that he is “ready to go” in the Premier League.
Source: standard.co.uk