‘Not a fair reflection’ – Roy Hodgson’s verdict on Crystal Palace’s 2-0 defeat at Wolves

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson did not believe that Wolves’ 2-0 win was a fair reflection of Tuesday night’s clash at Molineux.

Wolves took the lead after three minutes when Joachim Andersen turned Ruben Neves’ corner past Sam Johnstone. 

The Eagles came close to equalising in the second half when Eberechi Eze collected the ball from a corner and forced Jose Sa to tip his shot over the crossbar.

Wolves wrapped up all three points when Johnstone brought down Pedro Neto inside the penalty area, with Ruben Neves converting the resulting spot-kick.

The South Londoners had 15 shots and 59 per cent possession but failed to find a way past Sa, falling to defeat under Hodgson for the first time since returning.

“Credit to Wolves,” said the Croydon-born Eagles boss.

“We had such a lot of the ball in the second half, and I thought some of the football was very good.

“But they defended the corners and the crosses well.

“It was hard for us with that number of players – especially at the end when they went to a back five – to create a lot of space to get the equaliser I believed we were going to get and deserve.

“It didn’t happen. The worst thing then happens when we get robbed of the last three minutes when you still maintain hope and belief, we give away that penalty and end up losing 2-0.

“I don’t think it was a fair reflection of how the game went – we weren’t 2-0 losers today.”