ALL the national focus has been on Crystal Palace this week.

Chairman Steve Parish panicked in the wake of a fourth successive league loss without a goal, and Frank de Boer was axed after just 77 days.

In his place has come ex-England boss Roy Hodgson, whose last competitive game as a manager was the Euro 2016 humiliation against Iceland.

Tomorrow he takes charge of his first game, and in a way he could not wish for a better introduction.

In the same way some Saints fans might look forward to playing the top flight’s bottom team, so Palace supporters might be thinking this is the game where their club ends their goals and points droughts.

After all, Saints will rack up at Selhurst Park having failed to score in nine of their last 12 league games – ten out of 13 in all competitions if you include the League Cup loss to Wolves.

So make no mistake about it. This is a big game for Hodgson, obviously, but an equally big one for Mauricio Pellegrino.

Saints sacked their last manager after the club finished eighth in the Premier League and reached a major cup final.

A lack of goals and a lack of entertainment were two of the main sticks used to beat Claude Puel with.

Ok, it’s early days in 2017/18, but last weekend’s home loss to Watford was a throwback to the worst days of the Puel reign. Sarcastic cheers when a home player had a shot were evidence of that.

You cannot get away from the facts – Saints have only scored once from open play in five games under Pellegrino, and four of those games were at St Mary’s.

What’s more, they were against teams that, with respect, are not part of the Premier League elite – and Wolves didn’t even bring a first team with them.

Already, there is a distinct taste of déjà vu about Saints.

They are currently averaging 14.5 attempts on goal per game – exactly the same as under Puel in the league in 2016/17.

Yet last season they averaged 4.5 shots per game on target. At present, they are averaging under two.

Saints have had over 50 efforts on goal in the league this term, and have scored just one.

Like last season, therefore, is the problem the men tasked with scoring the goals, rather than the manager and his style of play?

Obvious question to ask.

Pellegrino has virtually the same strike options available to him as his predecessor. Indeed, following the sale of Jay Rodriguez, you could argue he has fewer options.

Manolo Gabbiadini started off well, but has scored just once since early March.

Shane Long has never been a prolific marksman at Premier League level, and at the moment can’t get in the first team anyway unless it’s from off the bench.

Charlie Austin does have form in the top flight, but Pellegrino has so far preferred Gabbiadini ahead of him.

Austin has yet to start a league game this season, which seems strange given his record.

The spotlight will be on Roy Hodgson tomorrow, but the pressure will only mount on Pellegrino if Saints lose again. Harder games will follow than Swansea, West Ham, Huddersfield, Watford and Palace and Pellegrino doesn’t want to end those five games with only five points.

The Argentine will not be given a long honeymoon period by the fans.

For some, that time might already have passed.

This is the Premier League, after all, and as de Boer will testify there is not much patience around these days.

And if the club’s best chance of goals, Austin, is kept on the bench for much longer, Pellegrino will start to lose friends rather than gain them.

Unless, of course, Saints can start scoring regularly again.

Over to you, Mauricio …