Roy Hodson has put Crystal Palace’s plans to escape relegation in some very simple terms, which certainly can’t be misunderstood or miscommunicated.

The former England manager, speaking after his side’s 4-0 defeat to Manchester United, said (via the Mirror) that his players need to “run their b******s off”.

Palace are bottom of the Premier League table with zero points and are yet to even score a goal, despite now having played seven games in the top flight this season.

They did manage to score (and win) against Huddersfield in the Carabao Cup, but will need to really step up a number of gears to survive in the Premier League after such a dismal start to the campaign.

Hodgson was speaking about the upcoming game against Chelsea, for which Palace will be without several key players, including Ivorian international Wilfried Zaha.

He said:

Christian Benteke won’t be back for a few weeks, so we still won’t have a recognised centre forward

Wilf Zaha probably won’t be back. Ruben Loftus-Cheek can’t play [as Chelsea are his parent club]

So there are three quality players I can name off the top of my head who could have helped us do a better job against Chelsea.

Chelsea visit Selhurst Park in just under two weeks, following the conclusion of the international break. Hodgson continued:

It’s got to be the lads I put out there who go out and run their b******s off — if you excuse my expression — to try to do the best job they can possibly do.

Hodgson will be hoping that his makeshift attack will be able to get a surprise result against Chelsea, so that he doesn’t suffer the same fate as predecessor Frank de Boer, who was sacked after just four games in charge of the club.