Roy Hodgson has proven wrong the predictions made by The Independent journalists in their 2019/20 season preview.

What did they say?

There clearly wasn't much expectation of what Crystal Palace would be able to achieve this season, as five out of the eight Independent journalists taking part in their preview predicted that they would go down.

This directly linked to what they saw coming for Hodgson, as the same number suggested that he would be the first Premier League manager to be sacked this term - Miguel Delaney, Mark Critchley, Sam Lovett, Tom Kershaw and Adam Hamdani were those who predicted this fate.

Critchley said: "The difficult summer Crystal Palace have suffered has hardly been his fault alone, but chairman Steve Parish is not afraid to move early in the season if his side makes a poor start."

Kershaw added that he is: "The last of a dying breed with an unfavourable hand dealt this transfer window." Meanwhile, Lovett simply put: "See ya later Roy. Your time is up."

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Proving them wrong

There was actually one journalist who was correct, suggesting that Javi Gracia would be first to face the sack, which happened in September.

Meanwhile, Hodgson has worked wonders at Selhurst Park, with the Eagles currently sitting 11th in the league, just six points off of fifth-placed Manchester United.

Did he really play for us?! No Palace fan has managed to name all of these obscure Eagles signings....

This comes despite the loss of Aaron Wan-Bissaka to the Red Devils, while there weren't necessarily any big-name signings brought in.

It is this ability to get the best out of the players he has at his disposal, which even led to the manager signing a one-year extension on his current deal at the beginning of March, as reported by BBC Sport at the time.

Hodgson has done a brilliant job at Palace this season, and has proved his doubters wrong in the process.

Meanwhile, one Palace player has proven Delaney wrong.