In the fifth and final part of our series analysing the clubs fighting with Albion to avoid finishing 18th, Andy Naylor examines arch-rivals Crystal Palace

At Leicester today in the tea-time kick-off, Roy Hodgson becomes the oldest man to manage in a Premier League match.

Hodgson (below), at 71 years and 198 days, overtakes the late Sir Bobby Robson in the East Midlands.

The Argus: The chances of the ex-England manager's seniority record being accompanied by relegation have receded appreciably since Crystal Palace were humbled by Albion's ten men at the Amex at the start of December.

They looked authentic candidates that night, vulnerable at the back and impotent in attack even after Shane Duffy had been sent-off.

Palace have gone from nine points and five places below the Seagulls to a place above them in 13th on goal difference, their highest position since the beginning of October.

Four wins and three draws in 11 games has eased their situation in what is proving to be a curious season.

Less than three weeks after losing to Albion, Palace pulled off a remarkable 3-2 victory against Manchester City at the Amex.

They also ran Liverpool close in a 4-3 defeat at Anfield last month and have drawn against Manchester United (away) and Arsenal (home).

Those results suggest that Palace, on their day, are too good to be languishing.

They also imply that their next match at Selhurst Park, against Manchester United on Wednesday, should not be written off.

There is a but, in fact more than one. Unusually, because it is regarded as one of those difficult places to go, Palace have only won three times at home in the league so far.

Their record is all the stranger against the other teams in the lower half of the table.

It is the best against those in the bottom eight, an average of 1.67 points per game, and yet against those below also striving to avoid 18th they have won only once and are averaging just one point per game.

Not only are Albion and Palace close to each other in the table, they are also both through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

It is not beyond the realms of possibility that they could meet each other twice in four weeks, on the second occasion at Wembley.

While the Seagulls are at Millwall in the last eight, Hodgson's team face an even sterner test at Watford, but their away form is strong, just that narrow defeat by Liverpool in their last five matches. The sequence includes another impressive victory at Wolves.

The Argus: The mercurial Wilfried Zaha (No.11 above) has rediscovered his influence as well. The winger has scored twice and provided an assist in his last three appearances after 13 league matches without directly providing a goal.

Stopping him will greatly improve Albion's prospects when the teams meet in a fortnight. Considering the circumstances, the fixture will be even more significant than normal.

Fixtures

Home: Manchester United, Albion, Huddersfield, Manchester City, Everton, Bournemouth.

Away: Leicester, Burnley, Spurs, Newcastle, Arsenal, Cardiff.

Form

Unbeaten in five all competitions, won seven of last 13.

The good news

Picking up points away.

The bad news

Struggling at home.

Key Player

Zaha is the obvious pick, but underrated Serbian midfielder Luka Milivojevic is also hugely influential. He has seven goals and, worryingly for Palace, eight bookings.

Current position

13th.

Predicted finish

13th.