Pointless, goalless, hopeless? The worst team in Europe

The club's torrid start has already seen Dutchman Frank de Boer sacked after he lost his first four games of the season, with former England manager Roy Hodgson the man given the impossible task of saving Palace.

Played six, scored zero, conceded 13, the figures make dire reading for Palace fans.

Palace are the only side in Europe's top five leagues (the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga) to have not found the net so far this campaign. Despite their travails, Alavés, Benevento, Colonia and Hellas Verona have all managed one goal.

The only start to a season in English football history that is comparaby with Palace's start is that of Portsmouth during the 2009/10 season, when they lost their opening seven games of the season but scored three goals in the process.

Despite drawing a blank, Hodgson's side have had 76 shots so far this season, putting them in ninth place in the Premier League rankings, above the likes of Leicester and Everton.

Their inability to find the net leaves them as one of only three teams in Europe's top five leagues to remain stranded on 0 points, along with Alavés (La Liga) and Benevento (Serie A).

As if that weren't enough, star striker Christian Benteke, who top scored for the 'Eagles' last term with 15 goals, has damaged knee ligaments and is set for a spell on the sidelines.

Thus, not only to Palace have to face Manchester United and Chelsea ion their next two games, but they have to do so wiothout their best player... good luck with that.

Fortunately for Palace, Hodgson has experience in working miracles, having led Fulham to 'the greatest of great escapes' when in charge at Craven Cottage.

"It is equal to it (the Fulham task) without a shadow of a doubt," Hodgson explained after the City defeat. "The difference is at Fulham there were 18 games to play then. We still have 32 to play. A lot of things can change.

"Unlucky after a bad start to run up against teams of this quality who are capable of punishing teams like this. It is a baptism of fire in that respect. We have to make sure we don't start panicking and start accepting that we are in a hopeless position at the end of September, because October, November, December, January, February, March, April and May can change so many things.

"We were relegated for weeks at Fulham, and when we were 2-0 down here at Manchester City, we were mathematically relegated at that point had we lost that, but then we ended up taking 12 points from a possible 15 and we have bear that in mind.."

Hodgson certainly isn't giving up hope but Palace's fans may well be quietly preparing for life in the second tier.