Playing with a high intensity, Palace’s first-half pressure led to a series of chances – and a goal on the stroke of half-time from Jordan Ayew – but were unable to close out the second period when Danny Welbeck’s late, impressive header secured the visitors a draw.
“We didn’t let it slip, to be fair,” Hodgson said. “I think we were unable to reproduce in the second-half the quality of our performance in the first-half, when we really did peg them back and stopped them playing the way they wanted to play.
“As the game wore on, you could argue they got better at that and forced us to work even harder to keep them at bay.
“I’m afraid the equalising goal was always in the air during that second-half, at least in the last half-an-hour, and it turned out to be an extremely good one – it was a wonder header from Welbeck. You’re unlucky if you get those goals against you.
“With a bit of luck we’d have held out, but it was a good performance against a very good team. We did certainly well enough from our side to get a point, but of course, at the moment, we’re still looking for those three points at home and with 10 minutes to go, at 1-0 up, you think maybe you’ll hold out – but we weren’t able to.”