Crystal Palace will look to take full advantage of Wolves’ lack of preparation time when they visit Selhurst Park on Sunday says Roy Hodgson.

Having finished seventh last season, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side qualified for the Europa League this term and kick started their campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Braga on Thursday evening.

Hodgson, no stranger of European adventures following his Fulham exploits where he led them all the way to the final in 2010, is aware of the strain it can cause and the distraction from the league it can bring.

“No doubt if you choose how you prepare, you’d do it without midweek fixtures” Hodgson said.

“But the fact is the benefit of European football - the kudos, finishing higher in the league, comes with the disadvantage that sometimes you’ll be playing Sunday-Thursday-Sunday, and your preparation between games will of course be less.

“You get on with it in the best possible way, but I can’t sit here and say it’s no disadvantage at all, it’s better to have the week to prepare.”

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'Tough Start'

Wolves have endured a torrid start to the season, picking up just three points from their opening five fixtures, and their back-to-back league defeats to Everton and Arsenal was compounded with a European defeat, albeit against the run of play at the Molineux.

Hodgson however, insists he won’t be taking their poor form lightly and is committed to getting his own side back on a winning track after a 4-0 humbling at Tottenham last weekend.

“Watching the game (Wolves v Braga) they (Wolves) were the better side, I judge it on the football they play and not the result they get,” he said.

“If ever a team was ever going to win a game, it was going to be them, so it’d be a bitter blow.

“They’ve not got the start they wanted but a couple of results they must be disappointed with, the cruelty of fate.

“But it shouldn’t affect their confidence because they’re playing every bit as well as they were last year.

“They’ll get points in the bag soon, I just hope they’ll wait until after Sunday to do so.”

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'A good moment'

Palace have enjoyed a positive start to the season despite poor, pointless, performances at Sheffield United and Tottenham.

Wins over Aston Villa and Manchester United put the Eagles 12th in the league but Hodgson reluctant to comment on the season or the current position they find themselves in.

“Against Sheffield United we didn’t come near the level we can play at.

“At Tottenham they played exceptional in the first half and we couldn’t respond.

“We take each game as a separate entity, judge what you did in that game.

“So I wouldn’t make any big judgements of where we are (in the league).

“We have an opportunity now, we’re fully fit, two games at home with players returning after long injuries, so I see it as a good moment, but it will only be good moment if we take points from those games.”

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