Crystal Palace 2-1 Stoke City
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Crystal Palace are building momentum at the right time and have their second Premier League win of the season to show for it
Roy Hodgson hopes Crystal Palace's dramatic late win over Stoke City proves to be a catalyst for their bid to escape relegation.
Mamadou Sakho's 92nd-minute winner moved the Londoners closer to Premier League safety, as he poked home from close range during a goalmouth scramble.
The Eagles remain bottom of the table but are now only three points behind West Brom in 17th.
Hodgson said: "We're delighted and I can only hope these points help us to keep building on what we're trying to do, and slowly pull away from the relegation zone and give us a chance of survival.
"I don't think we deserved to go one goal down but Shaqiri came up with the wonderful magic he's capable of weaving. It's important we responded and the equaliser was important for us. Then it was what was going to happen next. "
Xherdan Shaqiri's fine solo goal had lit up a subdued encounter and put the visitors in front on 53 minutes.
But Palace were level within two minutes through Ruben Loftus-Cheek, the England international taking advantage of lax defending to convert at the far post.
The visitors may well feel aggrieved having come so close to what would have been a deserved point.
For Hodgson, though, it is now eight points won since he replaced Frank de Boer in September.
It was a triumph of persistence for the former England manager's team, who are now gathering momentum before games against Brighton, West Brom and Bournemouth.
No place like home
Roy Hodgson praised the patience of the Crystal Palace fans afterwards
This game came at the end of a week during which Palace chairman Steve Parish announced, external plans for a new stadium are moving quickly.
The club have been exploring options for leaving Selhurst Park for years, and Parish said he would reveal more before Christmas.
But he would be wise to think hard about how to retain some of the renowned atmosphere their current home generates on days like this.
The Eagles were not playing especially well and seemed destined for a point, but the home fans remained noisily behind them despite their difficult start to the season.
It meant Palace were able to keep cranking up the pressure on a jittery Stoke, and eventually capitalise on their late lapse.
Parish need only look at the problems faced by West Ham after swapping Upton Park for London Stadium, and ensure his side keep some of that Selhurst alchemy.
Super Shaq needs help
Xherdan Shaqiri was Stoke's best player - but needs more support
Shaqiri is the type of attacking player who can light up any game.
His third goal of the season proved that - the Switzerland international carrying the ball from almost the halfway line, sashaying past Palace defenders and finishing expertly.
But Stoke rely on him too heavily - he had five of only nine shots in total from the visitors.
Manager Mark Hughes believed Shaqiri's goal should have at least earned them a point, and blamed poor defending for their defeat.
But he must address his team's issues at the other end of the field, and find more support for Shaqiri.
Man of the match - Yohan Cabaye (Crystal Palace)
Andros Townsend impressed throughout and provided the late cross but Cabaye's contribution was key in allowing Sakho to score at the end. He covered plenty of ground and created several openings, one of which Christian Benteke should have taken.
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson told Match of the Day: "It was an even contest and we've played better before. We got a bit of good fortune with the Sakho goal.
"Our fans cheered us on and they do stay to the end unlike fans at a lot of other clubs. I think that's something that will be a major weapon for us.
"If you fight to the end you've always got a chance and we showed fighting spirit."
Palace fought until the end - Hodgson
Stoke City manager Mark Hughes told Match of the Day: "We've defended poorly in the last few games unfortunately and it was the same again.
"We had two at the far post which we should have dealt with. It's hurting us at the moment. Performances have been OK up to a point but it's about getting results and that's the frustration for us.
"You want to clear you heads after we scored and instead we let them in. As an away team in the last 10 minutes you know the home side will throw balls into the box and you have to deal with them. We didn't deal with the key one well enough.
"We looked to be positive but in the end it's about fundamental defending."
Shaqiri goal should have beaten Palace - Hughes
What's next?
Crystal Palace travel to Brighton in the league on Tuesday (19:45 GMT), while Stoke host Liverpool on Wednesday (20:00 GMT).
The stats - a rare late winner for Palace
Crystal Palace are unbeaten in their five Premier League home games against Stoke, winning four and drawing one.
Sakho's goal was the first 90th-minute winner Crystal Palace have scored at home in the Premier League since Clinton Morrison's strike against Sheffield Wednesday in May 1998.
Shaqiri has had a hand in six goals in his past six Premier League games (two goals, four assists).
Shaqiri netted his 10th goal in the Premier League and the seventh from outside the box (70%) - only five players have scored a higher percentage of their goals in the competition from outside the area (min. 10 goals).
Roy Hodgson has won his past two Premier League matches versus Stoke as a manager, after winning just one of his first seven (W1 D2 L4).