Crystal Palace are in a relegation battle but are aiming to finish in the top half of the table according to Roy Hodgson.

Speaking ahead of his side’s trip to Leicester on Saturday, Palace sit in 13th place just three points above the relegation places but Everton in ninth are only six points ahead having played a game more.

Hodgson, whose side reached the last eight of the FA Cup last weekend are unbeaten in their last five in all competitions but Hodgson is still weary of being dragged in to relegation scrap.

“Of course we are in a battle,” said Hodgson.

“In fact there’s a few teams above us too, they know the difficulty of the league and how hard every point is to gain.

'Keeps us on out toes'

“The managers sitting better off than myself, ask them if relegation turns their head, and it will do because you can go on a run of three of four without picking up a point and teams will catch you up.

“The knowledge that this can happen keep us on our toes and stops us being complacent or thinking that it’s done, it never is.

“That said it doesn’t stop us performing, we still believe we can finish in the top half of the league.”

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