Crystal Palace didn't exactly exhibit the Christmas spirit on Thursday afternoon after deciding now was the optimum time to get rid of manager Alan Pardew.
However, the reality of the situation is much more grim than the move itself and one can understand the logic behind the decision when you survey the numbers behind what was a truly miserable season for the Eagles.
This calendar year, Palace have lost 22 of their 36 league games. Their final game of the year comes on St Stephen's Day against Watford. Their record on the road this year has seen them pick up 12 points from 18 away games.
Of those 36 games in the league, they have won just six. Those victories came against then-Premier League side Norwich (H), Middlesbrough (A), Stoke (H, twice), Sunderland (A) and Southampton (H).
Counting those six games won this calendar year, four have come this season meaning the team went the majority of the second half of last season without a win. This run of bad form still saw them avoid the drop, retaining their Premier League status with five points to spare.
Alan Pardew frequently bemoaned his side's defensive shortcomings and their difficulty defending set pieces. Image: Anna Gowthorpe PA Wire/PA Images
Their last ten league games have seen them win just one game (Southampton) and draw once (Hull City). The rest have been defeats.
That victory was their only one and only clean sheet of the season thus far, with Pardew's well publicised defensive issues plaguing his side all year.
Before this 'shutout', their last clean sheet came in April against Everton in a 0-0 draw. Last season as a whole they kept eight clean sheets, only two of which came in this calendar year. Those were back to back games against Norwich and Everton.
They're tied for third with highest number of losses (10) this season, behind Hull, Sunderland and Swansea - all of whom occupy the relegation places.
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