Crystal Palace came from behind with a late leveller in the 1-1 draw at Hull to ensure Championship football at Selhurst Park next season. Eagles chief Dougie Freedman said: "Ibra Sekajja fully deserved his opportunity. He's a great kid to work with, as a lot of the young kids are here.
"He's come through the ranks and we've had him since he was 14. He's done well and to score the goal that clinched our place in the Championship for next season was special.
"I'm not sure about his goal celebration, but it certainly showed how he felt about scoring on his debut, straight after being sent on. I couldn't have celebrated a goal like that!
"Ibra got his chance because we were missing eight first-teamers and had a very young side out there. We're a very tight group and it's a great credit to the younger guys."
Freedman said he now is looking forward to developing his young team following a promising display.
He added: "If you measure games in terms of possession and chances created, then we had more than enough of both to have won the game.
"My next job is to raise the bar and keep raising it.
"A lot of managers choose to play mind games but I can say hands on heart I was confident when I took over that we would stay up. I knew we had the ability in the dressing room.
Hull counterpart Nigel Pearson confirmed new-look personnel would be in next season's ranks.
He said: "We need to improve, we need to strengthen, but we have the nucleus of the side here now.
"Six months back we could have gone out of business. I'm not sure that people realise how close we were.
"But we survived and have moved forward.
"Now I have to be realistic and pragmatic. Looking at the team for next season, there are bound to be changes.
"We don't know yet if we will have Anthony Gerrard, the ball's in his court. Joe Dudgeon from Manchester United was in the crowd and we hope something will happen very shortly.
"We have offered Richard Garcia a new contract. He had to leave the field today, but he has been carrying an injury and he's been playing when most other players wouldn't have. It shows his personal drive."
