When Crystal Palace turned to Roy Hodgson to guide them to safety last season, chairman Steve Parish said the veteran manager's "experience and knowledge of the club" would likely bring immediate results.
To the credit of both men, it did, Hodgson masterminding five wins and two draws in 10 games to hoist Palace from relegation danger to a comfortable 11th-place finish.
But a poor run of just one win in 12 matches has left Palace nervously looking over their shoulder again.
The Eagles have slipped to 15th — only five points clear of the bottom three — and their embarrassing 5-0 thrashing at Arsenal last time out added to the scrutiny on their manager.
The former England boss insists he has not held talks with Parish over his future, but he is on thin ice ahead of what feels like a huge home match tonight against Sheffield United.
A game against the side rooted to the bottom of the table — and one without an away win all season — presents a chance for Palace to get back on track. But defeat would leave Parish facing a big call over whether to make another mid-season change.
A section of the Palace fanbase made their feelings known at Arsenal, holding up a banner which criticised the club and read, 'Wasted potential on and off the pitch. Weak decisions taking us backwards'. The mood among supporters could be lifted tonight, though, by the return of Michael Olise, who is fit again after missing three matches through injury.
Olise returned to training last week and Hodgson said he would make a call this morning on whether the winger starts the game at Selhurst Park.
His comeback could be key to Palace and their chances of turning their form around.
Hodgson says tonight is not a 'must-win game', but has been in football long enough to know it is a crucial
"He's available to [start]," said Hodgson yesterday. "But he had a very, very long spell out. He came back, and then he's been out for a further four weeks with an injury in a similar part of the body.
"You can understand that the doctors and the sports scientists are very concerned. I understand them, too, but I also trust Michael and how he thinks and feels.
"I will speak to him again before the game, and if he were to assure me, 'Don't worry, I can play, I want to start', I would start him.
"But if he, alongside the medical people, suggested it might be a bit soon and he said, 'I'm not certain that I feel ready for it', I would respect that, too."
Palace, who are set to complete the signing of Genk right-back Daniel Munoz this week, also have Jordan Ayew back from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Hodgson yesterday rejected the concept of tonight being a 'must-win game', but he has been in football long enough to know it is a crucial night.
