Dan Cook claims heavy defeat could impact Vieira’s Palace job

Dan Cook believes a heavy defeat midweek could be huge for Patrick Vieira’s future as Crystal Palace manager.

The Lowdown: Palace slipping into a relegation battle

Palace now have the unwelcomed record of becoming the first side since Opta started collecting data in the Premier League to have gone three league games without registering a single shot on target.

Prior to the Manchester City, Vieira was asked about any pressure he may be starting to feel given the Eagles are still winless in 2023, although he insisted he’s always been under pressure at Selhurst Park.

The Eagles’ fixture run of late hasn’t been very kind and it doesn’t get any easier in the immediate future as they travel to face their local rivals and Premier League high-flyers Brighton on Wednesday evening.

The Latest: Heavy defeat could cost Vieira

Cook has insisted on the HLTCO podcast that any sort of heavy defeat at the hands of Brighton could do significant damage to Vieira and his hopes of staying in the dugout at Palace.

He said: (9:30) “I do think regardless of Brighton’s upwardly mobile position a heavy beating by them on Wednesday night at the Amex could do significant damage to Patrick Vieira, regardless of the fact we are in a very difficult run of games and the hope is that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

“Because regardless of the Seagull’s upward momentum in their European aspirations, the emotional attachment for our fans to this fixture is such that if we do go to the Amex and get beat3/4/5-0 – heaven forbid – then it could really put the cat amongst the pigeons in terms of the fan reaction.”

The Verdict: Vieira now under pressure

The Eagles will know that going away to Brighton isn’t the easiest for any team in the league as they’ve lost just once on their home turf all season, but they’ve defied the odds in the past against the Seagulls.

In recent times, Palace have gone to the Amex, had two touches in the opposition’s box and managed to score two goals, claiming an extremely unlikely victory, but Roberto De Zerbi has unlocked a ruthless side.

While the game will be very difficult for Palace, Vieira will know that his team need to at least have a shot on target and show the fans that the players are still indeed fighting for him and believe in what he’s doing, otherwise it could be a long and tough road back.