Conference League trip 'a critical moment for the season'

If Crystal Palace's victory at the Amex appeared to be the team getting back on track after a long winless run, then Wednesday's collapse against Burnley amounted to being signal failure at the very least. You would expect any team to take three points from the position of being 2-0 up so early in the game, especially against a relegation candidate, and a win would have nestled the team happily in mid-table. Not knowing for sure that he is leaving at the end of the season would keep the focus on the present, whereas now any defeat or substandard performance is more likely to raise questions of his own motivation or his influence over the changing room.