LUKA THAT MILI ROCK!

C Palace ........ 2 Fulham ........ 0 Skipper spot-on again as Eagles soar

ROY HODGSON was asleep when Michy Batshuayi signed on Thursday – but now the Belgium star could wake Crystal Palace from their slumber.

The Chelsea loanee took just five minutes after climbing off the bench to set up the goal that killed off Fulham. Batshuayi’s shot on the turn was magnificently saved by Sergio Rico before Jeff Schlupp put in the rebound to add to Luka Milivojevic’s penalty. But in another uninspiring season at Selhurst Park, boss Hodgson may just have found signs of life thanks to Batshuayi. He said: “It was an impact! I only met him at 4pm on Friday and he played just 24 hours later.

“It was strong of him to come in at short notice. We think we have signed a player with enormous value in our attempts to stay in the division.

“We are now stronger. It was an important victory for us as we did not pass the ball well enough in the first half but we got a lucky break with the penalty.”

Even after Fulham’s comeback from 2-0 down to win 4-2 at home to Brighton in midweek, they are seven points from safety and look doomed. And they have Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City in their next four Craven Cottage fixtures. Initially Fulham looked like they might take that second half against Brighton into this game. Aleksandar Mitrovic missed a sitter, nodding over unmarked from six yards from Joe Bryan’s cross.

It never got any better for the away side after Cyrus Christie handled in the area under pressure from Christian Benteke – making his first start since September.

And Milivojevic did the rest with the 25th-minute spot-kick despite the best attempts of Rico. The Serbia star has now scored 13 penalties since the start of last term.

Palace should have punished Fulham further with Benteke denied a wonder goal after his scissor kick from Andros Townsend’s cross hit the bar.

Mitrovic’s threat always left Fulham with a chance but Hodgson threw on Batshuayi to the delight of south London.

And he immediately showed just why he has been signed with an impressive cameo. Fulham boss Claudio Ranieri said: “We have to be positive. We have a target in mind and we have to fight.

“We may have lost the battle but we have not lost the war.

“We have so many big teams coming to Craven Cottage – but maybe we can take points off the big teams.”