Crystal Palace were clinically despatched by a confident Southampton side 2-0 at Selhurst Park on Tuesday night.
Defeat meant the Saints leapfrogged their opponents into ninth, while Place slipped into the lower half of the table.
Southampton, a side who will unfairly be remembered for their 9-0 thumping by Leicester City earlier in the season, were fantastic.
The reason they looked fantastic was because they looked like they had energy.
Palace sadly, did not.
Hodgson named the same side that started the gruelling encounter at Manchester City three days ago, ten of whom played the game previously, Cenk Tosun the man coming in.
READ: REPORT: Crystal Palace 0 Southampton 2
READ: PLAYER RATINGS: Crystal Palace 0 Southampton 2
READ: Hodgson won't use tiredness as an excuse for Southampton defeat
The side looked stale, devoid of ideas, and in desperate need of an injection of life.
In Van Aanholt, Schlupp, Sakho, Benteke, Townsend and Milivojevic, Hodgson spoke of players returning from injury and suspension that will boost his pool of players.
It will undoubtedly increase his options, but many feel Palace have been treading water for too long, and that now is the time to strengthen Hodgson’s threadbare squad.
Many Palace fans felt that defeat to Saints was an indication of things to come if the issue of a small squad wasn’t addressed in the transfer market.
Team showed today, how tired it is, how stretched it is and how Roy has been getting so much out of a tiny squad, could this be a positive and the board put some money in? Probably not but you never know...#CPFC
— Michael (@M_CPFC) January 21, 2020
Hodgson in! Today was awful but we need to back him in this window ASAP our squad isn’t good/big enough be careful what you wish for we will end up with a manager like relegation expert Mark Hughes! #cpfc #coyp #CrystalPalace #ptid pic.twitter.com/IA5kI6KpPs
— Palace & proud (@PalaceProud) January 21, 2020
Squad in serious need of investment, feel for manager and players, the run of fixtures and injuries were always going to catch up with us. So so poor tonight. Fairplay to Southampton, they were excellent.
— Paul Mulligan (@MoveRevPurley) January 21, 2020
Questions have to be asked of the board... ?? #CPFC #CRYSOU
If something doesn’t change from the top we’re in big trouble next season. Add this to an ageing squad and we’re in for a fight to stay up #cpfc https://t.co/163H8AFm9e
— Gary Byfield (@GaryBizzle) January 21, 2020
Tonight was a huge wake up call..hopelessly outplayed and outclassed. This squad needs investment, there are no more excuses for @CEO4TAG and the owners now, its make or break..nobody will tolerate this circus at the top anymore #cpfc
— Chris D Esq. (@chrispd77) January 21, 2020
Roy's being hung out to dry with our squad and lack of signings, #cpfc.
— Paul Ashby (@paulashby3) January 21, 2020
Anyone who isn’t worried about relegation you need to open your eyes. We have one of the poorest squads in the league. No goalscorers, if Zaha don’t turn up no creativity. We have a decent goalkeeper and a couple of good centrebacks that’s it. #cpfc
— Me_85 (@palacefan_85) January 21, 2020
Terrible terrible terrible performance. Shows the lack of depth in our squad. Need investment big time. @CEO4TAG#cpfc
— Tom (@Palace_CPFC) January 21, 2020
The criminal lack of investment in the squad over recent windows shows again. Parish and co need to spend some money as it’s a constant insult to fans just trying to get by with loans and free transfers. Shows no ambition at all. #cpfc
— Palace365 (@palace365) January 21, 2020
That was a game too far for our threadbare squad. Never seen a side lose so many 50/50s. Surely a mistake to go unchanged even given the lack of options. #cpfc
— Daren (@cpdaren) January 21, 2020
Few thoughts. The board have completely let Roy down with their recruitment, or lack of, so far this season. That performance can be party blamed on an injury ravaged squad having been stretched to the max. We should’ve had more than just Cenk in this Jan so far. #cpfc
— L.i.am (@GilesyL14) January 21, 2020
Think tonight has been a bit of a reality check, league position not reflected way we have played. Squad desperately needs investing in @CEO4TAG get spending, #cpfc need you to back them...
— Alex Clark (@alexdclark87) January 21, 2020
Problem is with our micro squad and lack of options we can't freshen things up. Thanks again for that American investors... #cpfc #YanksOut
— YZ™ (@_IamYZ_) January 21, 2020
Roy probably lost all the goodwill that he finally gained after the City game with this performance. No idea what he's meant to do with this paper-thin squad though...
— Danny Ho! (@dannyboyskinner) January 21, 2020
We always lose at home to Southampton anyway, no drama. #cpfc
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