In Crystal Palace's last outing against Everton, Roy Hodgson took a decision which made little sense given the circumstances as he watched his side succumb to a defeat at Goodison Park.

Snapshot

The south Londoners suffered a poor start to the game within 20 minutes, as Bernard thumped home a volley in the 18th minute following a pinpoint delivery from Theo Walcott - the defending from Palace was poor, as Joel Ward got sucked in and left the Brazilian all on his own at the back post.

However, Christian Benteke found an equaliser with his first goal of the season to hand Hodgson's side a chance, but a quick response from Richarlison extinguished the flames of a fightback from the Eagles.

Before Dominic Calvert-Lewin sealed the three points in the 88th minute, the former England manager made a strange call.

79th minute decision made little sense

Put it this way - 2-1 down, with 11 minutes left, surely Hodgson would be keen to push on and try to find another equaliser, right?

Well, judging by the manner in which he used his third and final sub, one questions what the 72-year-old's intentions were.

Hodgson decided to withdraw Joel Ward in the 79th minute - that in isolation is fine. Withdraw a full-back for an attacker, and put Everton under pressure for the last portion of the game.

However, the change was only 50% correct, as the player who the former Liverpool boss subbed on didn't make much sense - Cheikhou Kouyate.

The Senegal international - in the kindest way possible - doesn't have an attacking bone in his body, having scored just once in 61 appearances for the Eagles.

To make matters worse, Andros Townsend - a pacey England international who netted a respectable six goals and registered four assists last term - was left sat on his backside amongst the rest of the substitutes, when his introduction surely would've been the more sensible, and effective, option.

The former Tottenham forward would've been a much more astute replacement for the right-sided Ward, given his tendency to cut in from the right onto his left foot where he looks to test the goalkeeper or whip a cross in - when such a good aerial presence in Benteke is also on the field, why would you not bring an impressive crosser of the ball on?

Someone's got to own them: Who do these incredibly unwanted PL records belong to?

So, to ignore that option for Kouyate - who had seven touches of the ball during his time on the pitch - really does leave us scratching our heads.

In other news, Dougie Freedman may have made a big mistake...