Mueez Ajao
– Crystal Palace have sacked manager Patrick Vieira after a 12-match winless run.
– Palace have not won a match in 2023 and were beaten 1-0 by Brighton in the Premier League on Wednesday, their third defeat in a row.
– They are 12th in the table but are only three points above 18th-placed Bournemouth, who have a game in hand.
Also Read: Haaland edges City past Palace to keep grip on PL crown
– “It is with enormous regret that this difficult decision has been made,” chairman Steve Parish said.
– “Ultimately, results in recent months have placed us in a precarious league position and we felt a change is necessary to give us the best chance of retaining Premier League status.”
– Frenchman Vieira, 46, was appointed before the start of the 2021-22 season and led the Eagles to a 12th-placed finish, earning praise for an attacking style.
– However, this season they have scored just 21 goals in 27 games – only Wolves, Everton and bottom-of-the-table Southampton have fewer.
– Before their defeat by Brighton, Palace had gone three consecutive games without a shot on target.
– No Premier League team has won fewer points in 2023 than Palace, who have taken five from a possible 33.
– Three members of Vieira’s coaching staff – Osian Roberts, Kristian Wilson and Said Aigoun – have also left the club and the process of appointing a new manager is under way.
– Just five points separate the Premier League’s bottom nine clubs heading into the final months of the season.
– Palace travel to leaders Arsenal, Vieira’s former club, on Sunday (14:00 GMT).
– Their final 10 games of the season will see them face all eight of their relegation rivals.
– Parish added: “Patrick’s impact since joining us in the summer of 2021 has been significant, and he is held in the highest regard by myself, and all of his colleagues.
– “He led the team to a Wembley FA Cup semi-final and respectable 12th-placed finish last season playing some exciting football, which was a challenging and crucial campaign for the club given the changes we made to the squad prior to his arrival.
– “Patrick has given his all to the club, and we all thank him and his team for their service.”
