Analysing Crystal Palace's run-in

At one stage this season, it appeared that Crystal Palace would be mounting a sustained charge for the top six in the Premier League standings.

While the Eagles are still only four points adrift of sixth-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers, manager Roy Hodgson will be slightly disappointed with the club's points haul of 39 points from 29 matches.

However, with a relegation battle almost out of the equation, Palace will be able to play with little pressure should the top flight resume in the coming weeks or months.

With that in mind, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at the London outfit's remaining fixtures, assuming that the order of games stays the same.

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While Hodgson would have preferred a home fixture, an away game against Bournemouth provides Palace with the opportunity to establish a bigger margin between themselves and the relegation zone.

With Palace possessing an identical return of four wins and five draws on their travels to Bournemouth's record at the Vitality Stadium, Hodgson will fancy his players to maintain their form on the road.

A visit to runaway leaders Liverpool could lie in wait next, although Palace remain the last side to earn a Premier League triumph at Anfield back in April 2017.

Palace are due to return to action at Selhurst Park with a showdown against Burnley, opposition who they have defeated in their last four meetings.

They also possess a strong recent record against Leicester City, prevailing in four of the last five outings, but the Foxes did end their losing streak against Palace in November.

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A London derby with Chelsea should be next, but Palace have suffered 11 defeats in the 15 games which have been staged since the turn of the millennium.

Before an unfortunately difficult triple-header, Palace go up against Aston Villa, who currently possess the fourth-worst home record in the division.

While two of Palace's final third games are at Selhurst Park, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur represent the opposition, clubs who may require points to qualify for a European competition.

Before the closing game of the season against the latter, Palace are scheduled to face Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, a team who only avoided defeat in the reverse fixture courtesy of a 94th-minute equaliser.

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With their remaining opponents possessing an average position of just 8.33, there is little doubting that Palace have been provided with one of the most difficult run of closing games in the Premier League.

However, 13 points have been recorded from the reverse fixtures this season, a return which would likely delight Hodgson given the current circumstances.

Crystal Palace's remaining Premier League fixtures

Bournemouth (a)
Liverpool (a)
Burnley (h)
Leicester (a)
Chelsea (h)
Aston Villa (a)
Man United (h)
Wolves (a)
Spurs (h)