Hodgson refuses to drink it in with Paul
SUNKEN Paul Lambert invited Crystal Palace survivor Roy Hodgson for an after-match drink – but the former England boss was reluctant to drown his sorrows with the Stoke boss.
Hodgson admitted he was basically lost for words after Palace’s 2-1 win relegated Stoke in front of their own disbelieving fans, who trudged away from the bet365 Stadium before the final whistle confirmed their fate.
He said: “Paul said come and have a drink with us but it’s a hard one because you don’t know what to say.
“So I feel a lot of sympathy for Stoke because I don’t think they could have done any more.
“I feel for Paul too. All of us who are going to survive this year, if we have any intelligence, we are going to think ourselves very lucky that we survived and they are down.
“I don’t get any particular pleasure when you see the pain etched on the coaching staff here.
“Stoke are going to have to go and build again. But they are a big club.
“I think if they continue in the way they have done in the last couple of months, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them at the top of the Championship next year.”
Palace created history with their amazing, great escape. They are the first top-flight team since Liverpool in 1899-1900 to avoid relegation after losing their first seven matches of the season.
Hodgson, who refused to take sole credit, added: “After seven games, or after 11 games with four points, I never saw it coming. But the players deserve all the credit.
“I suppose every orchestra needs a band leader and I was happy to wave the baton. I will get a lot of credit and I will enjoy the pats on the back.
“But I’m wise enough to know it’s not a one-man job. You need a lot of help from a lot of people.
“The best people you surround yourselves with are the players because players win championships and players lose championships.
“I’m really proud of our team’s performance, not just today but over the whole season.
“It’s a very tough day for Stoke so any joy I feel is measured by looking at the faces of the Stoke City players who really gave everything today.
“Unfortunately they came across a team that wasn’t prepared to lie down and as a result we could profit from the fact they had to win.”