Bournemouth were excellent in the first half at Dean Court, and held a commanding 2-0 lead at the break.
But, as the old cliché goes, 2-0 is a dangerous scoreline – and the Cherries did well to ensure that Palace didn’t get close to a comeback.
Asked what the mindset was going into the second half, Hill told the Daily Echo: “I think obviously we know that they have good quality players as well coming off the bench.
“Obviously [Jean-Philippe] Mateta, Adam Wharton, really good players.
James Hill (Image: Richard Crease)
“They were they were massive parts for them away when we last played them away.
“So we knew that coming in at halftime we had to change the mindset of being back to 0-0 again and we had to go and win the second half.
“And I thought the lads were brilliant.
“We came out fighting in that second half and obviously to go and get the goal that ended up finishing off the game.
“So yeah, we were brilliant in terms of that and we just need to carry on that mindset going into the next game.”
Bournemouth hardly had a sight of goal all game, and they were restricted to zero shots on goal for the entirety of the first half.
(Image: Richard Crease)
Hill was a central part of that, as the Cherries kept their tenth clean sheet of the season.
“I think we shut out the threats,” he said.
“I think me and Marcos [Senesi] were really aggressive going forward as well as the fullbacks, and obviously that led to corners and throw-ins as well in the corner that obviously then led to the penalty.
“So yeah, I think that was the game plan, was to be aggressive and take it to them.
“Obviously we’re at home and we want to get the fans behind us, and I think we’ve done exactly that today.
“I think the fans were behind us in every way and kept us going from minute one to the last minute.”
The second Bournemouth goal came from a penalty which was won when Dean Henderson spilled a Hill long throw and was adjudged to have fouled Senesi as the Argentine poked the ball away from him.
Marcos Senesi was fouled by Henderson for the Cherries penalty (Image: Richard Crease)
Hill’s throws have been a potent weapon for the side this term, since he took on the mantle from Antoine Semenyo in January.
“Before I came in doing the long throws, it was more Antoine doing the long throws and me trying to flick them, like away at Chelsea and that led to a goal,” Hill said.
“So it’s been one of the weapons in our arsenal as a club throughout the season.
“But yeah, it’s been nice to obviously include that and obviously just keep going with that, it’s obviously positives to bring that to the team.
“But there’s other qualities that the lads have brought, even just to win the penalty, the desire to keep going when the ball’s balls bouncing around to win the second ball.
“So yeah, it’s been great to obviously include that, but down to the rest of the boys to try and get their head on it.”