Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson is confident they'll stay clear from the dropzone.

Palace meet Arsenal this weekend.

Asked about their goals having exited both Cups, Hodgson said: “What do Brentford hope for, what do Fulham hope for, what do [Nottingham] Forest hope for?"

He added: “I don't see us [finishing] in the top six. The players we have, the way we are, the organisation and group of players we're working with, I'm certain they'll get us clear of relegation.

“Around us we've got a lot of teams in the same neck of the woods as we are, but a few are a few points above us at the moment."

Hodgson also addressed the jeers for his substitution of Ebere Eze in their FA Cup replay defeat to Everton.

“I can understand the other night they were upset [at me for taking Eberechi Eze off at Everton]. He gives us a better chance of winning than not, but we have to make other decisions.

“I'd have liked to say, 'You just carry on'. But I know I'd be doing the wrong thing for him in regards to his injury and possibly the wrong thing for the club, had the injury reoccurred.

“Had the game not come so quickly maybe we'd have taken the chance, but the decision was made to play him for 60 minutes. The fans didn't know that, but I'm pretty certain if that had been explained to the fans, they would have understood it better.

“They did a great job coming up there to support us; they were their usual vocal selves, but I can understand they must have thought, 'This is crazy taking your best player off'. I hope I've explained it to them now, and I hope they can accept the explanation."