Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson admits that the Eagles have hit rock-bottom following their 4-0 defeat at Manchester United on Saturday.

Palace, who are without the likes of Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha, sit at the bottom of the league table after losing their opening seven games without scoring a goal.

The South London club will host Chelsea in their next league fixture following the international break.

"Christian Benteke won't be back for a few weeks, so we still won't have a recognised centre forward," said Hodgson.

"Wilf Zaha [Palace's star winger who has not played since being injured in the season opener] probably won't be back. Ruben Loftus-Cheek can't play [as he is on loan from Chelsea].

"So there are three quality players I can name off the top of my head who could have helped us do a better job against Chelsea.

"But they're not there. So it's got to be the lads I put out there who go out and run their b******s off — if you excuse my expression — to try to do the best job they can possibly do."

Hodgson also admitted that he expects to see fractions in his squad in the coming weeks.

"Obviously, it's going to get more fractious because we put our messages across quite strongly and there will be some players on the field who don't pick up those messages as quickly as others," he said.

"So maybe one or two of those who have picked it up get a bit irritated with one or two who don't pick it up quite as quickly. But that's nothing I can't deal with.

"The mood has been good and the players have been keen to get down to work and try to improve their ability to defend and attack.

"We're a wounded animal in more ways than one — because of the start we've had and the fact we're doing it without five or six very important regular players."