Roy Hodgson ranks Fulham’s win over Manchester City to survive relegation as the most memorable of his career – but Palace’s win over the champions “ranks very highly”.

Andros Townsend’s goal of the season contender on either side of strikes from Jeffrey Schlupp and Luka Milivojevic gave Crystal Palace a shock lead at the Etihad Stadium.

The visitors came back from Ilkay Gundogan’s opener and, while Kevin de Bruyne cut into the lead late on, Palace held on for arguably their most surprising three points this season.

Hodgson was asked where the win, Palace’s first away from home against City for 28 years, ranks for him in his managerial career.

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He said: “It ranks very highly but it still probably doesn't rate as highly as the one, many years ago, which kept Fulham basically in with a shout of staying in the Premier League.

“It didn't keep us in the Premier League, it's just that 2-0 at half time - had that result stayed - even if we pulled it back to 2-2 we were relegated.

“As it turned out, we won the game 3-2, which was a déjà vu situation like today, and then we went on to take - I think - as many as 12 points from the next 15 or nine from the last 12 and keep ourselves up.

“I suppose that will always be foremost in my memory but I must also say the Manchester City we beat then weren't anywhere near as good as the Manchester City of today.

“We're looking at the champions of England here and, quite conceivably, the future champions of England too.”

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Goals from Stephen Ireland and Benjani condemned Fulham to a two-goal deficit at half time that day, threatening to relegate them to the Championship in April 2008.

Despite coming back to draw level in the second half, they needed three points, and it was Diomansy Kamara’s 92nd minute winner which proved vital that season.

Wins against eventually relegated Birmingham City and later FA Cup winners Portsmouth led to their safety, a game Hodgson cherishes because of the circumstances.

But the former England boss looks at Palace’s historic win as a huge achievement given the strength and quality of the opposition his team defeated.

He added: “They've got such a good team. I think they've got such a good squad, and they have such enormous discipline and concentration and focus that they don't just rely on the talent of their players.

“They're organised, they're disciplined, they're focused, and they work so hard.

“When you play them and you try to present to your players, 'These are the weaknesses, this is where we can get at them', there aren't many.”