HODGSON: OUR LUCK HAS TURNED, BUT NOT OUR SEASON

THE last time Crystal Palace scored a stoppage-time winner in the Premier League at home, it was against Sheffield Wednesday on the final day of the 1997-98 season. Since that Clinton Morrison strike almost 20 years ago, Arsenal have managed 13 such victories, while Manchester United with their famous ‘Fergie time’ have enjoyed eight at Old Trafford. Against Stoke, Palace received a rare stroke of luck just when manager Roy Hodgson needed it most, with Mamadou Sakho in the right place at the right time. Though they finally benefited from a stoppage-time winner, this was no turning point. There is still a long way to go and Palace have to improve if they are to stay up. That is the message Hodgson will be drilling into his players ahead of

tomorrow’s trip to fierce rivals Brighton. ‘I don’t believe in turning points,’ said Hodgson. ‘It was another step along the way, another confirmation that what we have done in the last five games, to get us five points, is capable of getting us three points as well. Especially if that luck which has really been deserting us starts to show its face again. There is not a lot of point in looking ahead to the end of the season. Let’s look ahead to Tuesday.’ Palace had to come from behind to beat Mark Hughes’s side after Xherdan Shaqiri’s fine solo opener. Ruben Loftus-Cheek (right) equalised before Sakho’s winner. With one of the Premier League’s worst defensive records, Stoke are now close to the relegation zone themselves. Hughes said: ‘We should have had more reward for our efforts but, at the end of the day, you only get what maybe you deserve for dealing with the key moments.’ CRYSTAL PALACE (4-4-2): Hennessey 6.5; Ward 6, Tomkins 6.5, SAKHO 8, Schlupp 7; Loftus-Cheek 7, Cabaye 6.5, Milivojevic 6.5, McArthur 5 (Benteke 46min, 6); Townsend 7, Zaha 7. Subs not used: Speroni, Van Aanholt, Dann, Fosu-Mensah, Sako, Puncheon. Scorers: Loftus-Cheek 56, Sakho 90+2. Booked: Tomkins. Manager: Roy Hodgson 6.5. STOKE CITY (3-4-2-1): Grant 6.5; Zouma 6.5, Shawcross 5, Wimmer 6; Diouf 6 (Jese 74, 6), Fletcher 6.5, Allen 7, Pieters 6; Shaqiri 7.5, Sobhi 6 (Crouch 67, 6); Choupo-Moting 6.5. Subs not used: Haugaard, Afellay, Martins Indi, Adam, Edwards. Scorer: Shaqiri 53. Booked: Wimmer. Manager: Mark Hughes 6 Referee: Mike Dean 6. Attendance: 23,723.