Hodgson a huge admirer of Canaries but Eagles’ chief issues a warning

The Crystal Palace chief plotted a 2-0 defeat over the newly-promoted Canaries at Selhurst Park, after revealing prior to the game he is a huge admirer of how City bucked the trend and built a Championship title-winning squad without needing to open the cheque book.

"We all know money doesn't guarantee you any success, it's just something that excites people towards the end of transfer window to see who has spent the most and who has won the transfer battle," he said.

"You would be hopeful the money you are spending is on good players and good players will make you a better team, but there are no guarantees that will make you better than the team that hasn't spent much at all.

"There is another aspect to this too where when a team have a wonderful season like Norwich did in the Championship and they have good young players they are introducing into the team, sometimes keeping that team together you get the benefits of all the success.

"They know each other, they know exactly how each other plays and they have good players and all of those things can help you, certainly at the start of the season before sometimes the grind sets in.

"Of course that is when real judgement of teams has to be made - 14, 15 or 18 games into the season where the euphoria has passed long ago and it does become once again about the day-to-day work and day-to-day performances."

Hodgson admitted his side had to endure a difficult period prior to half-time before easing to a win inspired by Wilfried Zaha.

"There was definitely a spell towards the end of the first-half where I thought we started to sag with our defence," he said.

"They were getting the ball into the areas where we didn't really want them to have it .ie. that corridor if you like between the midfield and the back players and I thought we really tightened up in the second-half.

"Wilf's done that in the last few games. He was even better against Wolves. He had an excellent game."