Mamadou Sakho: 'Stoke City winner gave us courage'

Crystal Palace defender Mamadou Sakho has said that his winning goal against Stoke City on Saturday gave the club "a lot of courage".

Stoke midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri had given the Potters the advantage, but Ruben Loftus-Cheek equalised just three minutes later before Sakho popped up with a late winner in second-half stoppage time as Roy Hodgson's men secured just their second league win of the season.

"I am happy and indeed for the squad," the Frenchman told the club's website. "The most important thing today is winning the game because we needed to and that showed the way all the squad and the fans kept fighting until the end.

"I wanted to bring all the players together into the celebrations because it was a tough game and we all deserved to enjoy this goal and that is why I went to see the players on the bench.

"It gave us a lot of courage so that we never leave the fight and I really hope that together we will win a lot of games this season."

Hodgson's side face Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday following Saturday's victory.