I feel for Mark says Hodgson

ROY HODGSON kept his celebrations subdued after Palace’s injury-time winner in deference to how Stoke manager Mark Hughes would be feeling.

“Gutted, just like I’ve felt when we’ve lost when we didn’t deserve to,” said Hodgson.

Xherdan Shaqiri put Stoke ahead wonderfully only for Ruben Loftus-Cheek to level quickly before Mamadou Sakho nicked a 92nd-minute winner.

Hodgson momentarily waved his arms above his head in a show of relief more than delight as Selhurst Park erupted.

“Moments like that make me realise what a hard job this is,” said Hodgson. “You see your staff suffering, the opposing team’s staff suffering, we’re jumping around and they’re standing there with their heads down.

“You feel embarrassed behaving like that but it’s what the game does to you. It tugs at the heart strings, it tears out all the emotions and

C PALACE

perhaps that’s why the game is as it is.

“I feel for Stoke. I have a lot of respect for Mark Hughes, his staff and the way they work.

“He’ll be feeling as I felt at Newcastle and Tottenham, where I thought we were worth at least a point.” This precious victory, only their second of the season, gives Palace a real chance of survival with Brighton to come tomorrow and West Brom on Saturday. “I don’t believe in turning points but it was another step along the way,” said Hodgson.

Hughes said: “All we should be talking about is the goal that Shaqiri scored, but we paid the price for the emotion of it and switching off.

“Instead we’re left wondering how we lost, after making enough opportunities. We should have just cleared our lines.” SAKHO: Winner