Roy Hodgson did not expect Crystal Palace to respond so quickly to his methods and believes their 2-1 defeat of Chelsea puts them ahead of schedule in their battle against relegation.
Their first points and goals of the Premier League season came after a significantly improved performance in which they outclassed the defending champions.
In only their fourth league game since Hodgson's appointment as Frank de Boer's successor, they demonstrated a level of organisation he said Fulham, who he inspired to survival in 2008, required three months to reach.
Fulham eventually survived on the final day of that season, and Hodgson said: 'This has come quicker than I expected.