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Crystal Palace: Pressure mounting on boss Patrick Vieira amid 11-match winless run 

Crystal Palace: Pressure mounting on boss Patrick Vieira amid 11-match winless run 

This time last year Crystal Palace were in the midst of a seven game unbeaten run – a sequence that saw them hold eventual title winners Manchester City to a goalless draw, thrash Everton 4-0 in an FA Cup quarter-final and demolish this season’s champions-elect Arsenal 3-0.

Patrick Vieira was emerging as one of the most promising managers in the Premier League and Palace one of the most exciting teams in England.

Fast-forward 12 months and the team’s trajectory has – at best – plateaued. But, perhaps, more pertinently Vieira’s rise has come to a shuddering halt.

Palace are yet to win a single game in 2023 – a run of 11 matches. With a visit to Arsenal next up on Sunday that sorry stretch could well extend to 12.

As yet, there has been little external noise about the Frenchman’s future but Sportsmail understands the pressure inside Selhurst Park is mounting on the Palace boss.

Pressure is mounting on Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira amid an 11-game winless run

The Eagles lost 1-0 against Manchester City on Saturday to extend their streak without a win

The Eagles lost 1-0 against Manchester City on Saturday to extend their streak without a win

Palace are 12th, but only three points above the relegation zone

They are in danger of being dragged into trouble

The south London side are 12th in the table, but just three points above the relegation zone

And Sportsmail understands the pressure inside Selhurst Park is rising, with a growing sense that senior figures feel that improvement is needed - and quickly to avoid a relegation battle

And Sportsmail understands the pressure inside Selhurst Park is rising, with a growing sense that senior figures feel that improvement is needed – and quickly to avoid a relegation battle

Whether there is the appetite to ultimately part with Vieira is subject to a number of variables, but there is a growing sense that improvement is needed – and quickly.

Of course, the cut-throat nature of the Premier League dictates that most managers would find themselves under the microscope after 11 matches without victory. But Vieira has credit in the bank.

Last season may be a distant memory now but hasn’t been totally forgotten behind the scenes at Selhurst Park. It’s partly why the powers-that-be have stuck with Vieira. There is an acknowledgment that Palace may have over-achieved last season.

It would be unrealistic, maybe even unfair, to use the previous campaign’s successes as a yardstick to judge the team’s progress under Vieira in the present.

That said, how much longer can Vieira hold on without and upturn in results? The prospect of being dragged into a relegation fight could yet force the club into action.

Palace are 12th – but just three points adrift of the drop zone in what is gearing up to be one of the tightest battles against relegation in years. 

The Palace hierarchy…

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