CRYSTAL Palace staged an incredible comeback at Selhurst Park to earn a 3-3 draw with Liverpool - with Tony Pulis admitting he thought he side could win the game at the death.
The man who took Palace from relegation certainties to mid-table safety felt that the game would open up if the Eagles avoided conceding early in the second half.
That didn't happen - but Palace still completed an amazing fightback, netting three times in the final 11 minutes.
Pulis said: "In the first half we needed to defend well today and they play very open and they are quite happy to play open because they've got best forwards in the league. It was always going to be a case where it was going to be more open than normal games.
"We came in at half time and I said get through first 10 minutes of the second half, and I honestly think the game will open up and if the game opens up and we get opportunities and chances we'll have a chance. [Then] they get the two goals - one deflected and one they finish it with aplomb.
"When we got the first goal I thought we'd have a squeak, then the support amazing. When the second went in it was only a matter of time before we got a third."
Indeed, Pulis felt that his side could have won it late on when Dwight Gayle fired narrowly wide and once again, saw fit to praise the support before defending his style of play.
He said: "Yeah [I thought we could win it] with Gayley's effort.
"With that support and atmosphere at the club, that's the best I've heard for a long, long time.
"We've been different this year; we've played some exciting football.
"Bolasie looked off it for a bit, but he's one of them, you think he's run out of legs then the next thing he finds another balloon of air from somewhere."
The Eagles' boss hinted at a possible strike force of Glenn Murray and Dwight Gayle next season, but realised it might result in a change of style.
"Gayley has been very unlucky this year, we've played a certain way this year and it's not really suited Gayley but bringing Murray on took a lot of pressure off him and he finds the gaps."
