Crystal Palace came from behind to claim a 2-1 victory over Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium this afternoon.
The Potters took the lead when Mame Biram Diouf latched onto Charlie Adam's deflected free kick and slotted into the corner.
Palace were then awarded a penalty when Yannick Bolasie and Asmir Begovic collided inside the box and Glenn Murray smashed home the resulting spot kick.
Moments later Wilfried Zaha raced through to fire Palace in front and they withstood a host of pressure from Stoke in the second half to earn a fourth win in their last five games away from home.
Find out how the action unfolded below.
Good afternoon everyone! After a thrilling week of European football the Premier League is back and we are well and truly in the business end of the season. Here, our coverage sees two mid-table teams go head to head, as Stoke City play host to Crystal Palace.
Stoke had been enjoying a decent run of form until last Saturday, when they slipped to a narrow defeat against West Brom. They rarely looked like scoring that day and Mark Hughes will be hoping that they can get back on track and record a third home win in a row.
It was a much better weekend for Palace, who scored three times in the opening half to heap more pressure on QPR. The Eagles played some great stuff at times and there has been a real feel good factor surrounding the club since Alan Pardew arrived at the turn of the year.
We've still got plenty more build up to come before kick off, but I think it's about time we had a look at the team news, which was revealed just a few minutes ago.
STOKE XI: Begovic, Cameron, Shawcross, Wilson, Pieters, Nzonzi, Adam, Diouf, Ireland, Arnautovic, Crouch
CRYSTAL PALACE XI: Speroni, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare, Ledley, McArthur, Zaha, Puncheon, Bolasie, Murray
STOKE SUBS: Butland, Bardsley, Whelan, Walters, Sidwell, Teixeira, Wollscheid
CRYSTAL PALACE SUBS: Hennessey, Mariappa, Hangeland, Kelly, Sanogo, Ameobi, Gayle
So, that's how our teams are looking for this afternoon's match. There are four changes for the hosts, as Geoff Cameron, Mame Biram Diouf, Stephen Ireland and Marko Arnautovic all start following last weekend's defeat at the Hawthorns. Jonathan Walters only makes the bench after fracturing a cheekbone, but Victor Moses is ruled out completely with a hip injury.
Meanwhile, Palace have made just one change from the side that romped past QPR last week, as Pepe Souare comes in at left back for Martin Kelly. The dangerous pair of Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha will again be expected to provide the threat from out wide, while Glenn Murray will be looking to add to the three league goals he scored last month.
Let's take a closer look at each side now, beginning with Stoke, who will be desperate to put in a better performance than they managed at the Hawthorns last week. A first-half header from Brown Ideye was enough to seal the points for the Baggies and put an end to the Potters' winning run, which has probably extinguished their very slim chances of finishing among the European places.
Arrived at @stokecity ahead of today's @premierleague game v @CPFC. Predictions? Going for a #SCFC win pic.twitter.com/HnUVHfm0Dh
— Chris Iwelumo (@chris_iwelumo) March 21, 2015
One of the most disappointing aspects of that defeat, was that they managed just two attempts on goal all afternoon and those headed efforts from Peter Crouch and Jonathan Walters can only really be classified as half-chances at best. Their deliveries from set pieces were also poor and I think we can expect a display of much higher intensity and quality this afternoon.
Stoke will surely be glad that they are back at the Britannia today, as their home record has been quite impressive in the last few months. They have won five of the last seven in front of their own fans, with the two Manchester clubs the only teams to have taken point from them since January.
Although it seems that the Potters are safe from relegation and too far away from finishing inside the top six, they can still break a couple of club records in remaining weeks of the season. Their highest finish (9) and points tally (50) in the Premier League came last season, but they are well on course to top that now.
Making the trip to the Britannia this afternoon are a Crystal Palace side who will be full of confidence after their 3-1 win over QPR last time out. Wilfried Zaha, James McArthur and Joel Ward all scored before the break and although Matt Phillips fired in a goal of the season contender late on, they held out to pick up the points.
It was their second win in three games and lifted them up to 12th in the table. They currently sit eight points above the bottom three and although it looks as if they will not be dragged into a relegation battle, Alan Pardew will know that his team have plenty of work to do over the next couple of months to make 100% sure of safety.
The Eagles have certainly turned things around since the beginning of 2015 and they have found the sort of form that propelled them up the table last season. Even in recent defeats against Arsenal and Liverpool, they have still shown great spirit and have put in some top performances, with players like Bolasie and Zaha continuing to impress.
Another reason to back Palace today is because of their good record outside of Selhurst Park. They have won three of their last four games away from home, with a narrow defeat against Southampton the only reverse. Based on away form alone they would be ninth in the Premier League, but surprisingly they would be a lowly 17th if you just used their home results.
These teams last met just over four months ago and on that occasion the points were shared. All of the action came early on, with James McArthur looping a header over Asmir Begovic to give the Eagles an 11th minute lead. Their advantage proved to be short lived though, as just two minutes later Peter Crouch tapped in at the back post to level for Stoke. The rest of the game was a pretty scrappy affair with neither side able to force a winner.
© Getty Images
That draw was the 13th overall between the teams in what has been a very even fixture over the years. Palace have a slightly better record, with 21 victories compared to Stoke's 18 wins, but in their last nine meetings the Potters have triumphed on five occasions.
PREDICTION: This is a tough one to call and I don't expect to see a lot of goals this afternoon. Stoke will surely offer a response following last week's defeat, but it won't be easy for them against a Palace side who have travelled well recently. I remember predicting a 1-1 draw in the previous match between the teams so I think I'll tip this game to finish by the same scoreline too!
With just five minutes left until kick off, make sure you check out our video preview of today's clash.
KICKOFF! We are underway at the Britannia Stadium!
We're yet to see any goalmouth action in the opening minutes of this game, but the fans are making plenty of noise in the stands. It's just been a little bit scrappy, with each team just feeling each other out at the moment.
There's still no real patten to the match and we could be in for a bit of a battle, as there has been some crunching tackles flying in already. Palace have been trying to get their wingers involved though, but so far Bolasie has been well contained.
Finally we have seen our first shot and it comes from a Palace free kick that is just outside the box. Bolasie is the man who takes it, but he can't find the target and ends up smashing the ball high over the bar.
CHANCE! Down the other end of the pitch Stoke win a free kick in a very promising area and they get a number of players forward. Adam whips in the set piece and it looks as if it will end up in the top corner, but Speroni is there to touch the ball over the bar.
CHANCE! Within the space of a minute Adam twice comes close to grabbing the opening goal for Stoke. The midfielder is picked out on the edge of the box by Ireland and looks to curl one into the bottom corner, but the ball ends up heading inches wide of the far post with the keeper left rooted to the spot.
GOAL! Stoke City 1-0 Crystal Palace (Mame Biram Diouf)
Stoke have stepped it up a gear over the past couple of minutes and it's no surprise to see them take the lead. Once again Adam is involved, as he fires in a low free kick that takes a deflection off the wall and runs through kindly to Diouf, who has the simple task of guiding the ball into the corner. There was a huge slice of luck about the goal, but it was a clinical finish from the Senegal international.
Palace have tried to come up with a quick response, but they are being closed down well on the flanks by Stoke. While they will pose a big threat in attack, they have already been undone from a free kick and their defending from set pieces has looked shaky.
I just spoke about how unconvincing Palace were looking in defence and Speroni has got away with an error here. He should collect a left-wing cross from Adam, but he spills the ball with Crouch in close attendance. The Stoke striker then tries to flick the ball goalwards, but the keeper manages to recover in time to prevent his side from going futher behind.
This has already been a far better display from Stoke than they managed to produce against West Brom last week. They are moving the ball around quickly and are playing some great stuff. I'm sure that Hughes will be wanting his team to take full advantage while they are in such a commanding position in the game.
In contrast, Palace just haven't been able to reproduce the electric start that they had against QPR. When do they manage to get on the ball, their build up is slow and they are finding it hard to penetrate the Stoke backline.
SHOT! We haven't seen too much of Zaha in this first half, but the winger shows the threat that he can pose when he dances past a couple of challenges and finds some room to shoot in the box. He then drives in a low effort, but he doesn't get the contact that he wants on the ball and ends up dragging it well wide of the post.
YELLOW CARD! Zaha is the first player to pick up a card this afternoon for a push on Cameron. Having looked at the replays, there was very little in that challenge and the Palace winger can consider himself very unfortunate to be booked.
Other than that three-minute period earlier in the half when Stoke got their goal, chances have been at a premium with the majority of the game being played in the centre of the midfield. There are a few more poor tackles creeping into the game at the moment and I have a feeling that the referee will be pulling out his cards if it continues.
PENALTY TO CRYSTAL PALACE! Out of absolutely nowhere Palace have got the chance to get back into the game after winning a penalty. Bolasie gets in front of Shawcross and collides with the on-rushing Begovic inside the box. The referee then books the keeper and points to the spot, but I think that the Palace man is the one who has committed the foul there.
GOAL! Stoke City 1-1 Crystal Palace (Glenn Murray)
The visitors have been second best for much of this first half, but Murray draws them level just before the break. He makes no mistake from the spot, with a confident penalty that he smashes into the roof of the net and you have to say that it is very harsh on Stoke.
YELLOW CARD! I said that we were likely to see more bookings and Adam is the latest player to be shown a card for a foul on McArthur.
YELLOW CARD! It's all kicking off at the moment as Pieters becomes the third Stoke player to be cautioned for a foul on Zaha. You can sense the frustration from the hosts after that penalty decision, but they have got to keep their heads here.
We are going to have two minutes added on to the end of this first half.
GOAL! Stoke City 1-2 Crystal Palace (Wilfried Zaha)
Palace were lucky to draw level a few minutes ago and now they will head into the break with a surprise lead! A long ball from Speroni is flicked on by Murray and Zaha makes the most of some slack defending to get in behind and smash a low strike into the net.
HALF-TIME: Stoke City 1-2 Crystal Palace
What a finish to the first half! I need to catch my breath as this game has really sprung into life. It looked as if Stoke would go into the break leading thanks to Mame Biram Diouf's strike, but a debatable penalty from Glenn Murray and a clinical finish from Wilfried Zaha means that it is Palace who are in control!
Right, let's take a quick look at how the statistics shaped up from that opening 45 minutes. Stoke just about shaded the possession with 53% of the ball, but thanks to a great finish to the half by Palace, the visitors have recorded more shots on goal, with six attempts compared to Stoke's four efforts.
© Getty Images
Stoke must surely be wondering how they are losing after putting in an impressive display for much of the first half. It really has been smash and grab from the visitors, but they have taken each of their goals brilliantly.
2 - After scoring one goal in his first 35 Premier League appearances, Wilfried Zaha has scored in his last two. Revitalised.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 21, 2015
I've just had another look at the replay from the penalty decision and you can understand why Stoke would feel so aggrieved. Bolasie went in very high to challenge Begovic for the ball and many will feel that he was actually fouling the keeper. It has been a crucial turning point that has set up what should be a thrilling second half!
The visitors take the kick off and get the match back underway!
With just 30 seconds played in this second half, Stoke could easily be down to 10 men after Pieters brings down Zaha. The full back is already on a booking and the referee has been extremely lenient in letting him off there.
YELLOW CARD! Bolasie causes some more panic for the Stoke defence when he twists and turns inside the box before picking out the run of McArthur. The midfielder then goes down under pressure from Adam, but instead of giving a penalty, the referee rightly books him for diving.
CHANCE! McArthur is involved again for Palace as he controls the ball on his chest around 25 yards out from goal, before firing in a low strike that has Begovic at full stretch, but just heads inches wide of the post.
SAVE! It's end to end at the moment and Stoke have a big chance to level the scores when Pieters whips in a low cross that is met by Diouf, but his shot ends up hitting the head of Speroni and going out for a corner.
CHANCE! The visitors have looked extremely dangerous on the break and Zaha leads the charge down the right wing. He then picks out Puncheon, who has a clear sight of goal, but he can only blaze his effort high over the top.
OFF THE POST! Palace really have stepped it up a gear since the break and they should have scored a third goal. They have another good chance here to add to their lead, as a corner drops kindly to Dann inside the box, who then drills a low effort against the post, with the rebound scrambled to safety by the Stoke defence.
CHANCE! Stoke are being run ragged by the Palace attack and Bolasie once again powers his way down the left wing. He then delivers a teasing low cross into the middle that Murray meets, but the striker can only turn the ball over the bar. Will the visitors be made to pay for these missed chances?
SAVE! This game is so open at the moment and it's hard to tell what the final score will be! On this occasion it's the hosts who will think that they should have found the net, as a shot from Arnautovic runs kindly through to Ireland, but his close-range effort is brilliantly blocked by Speroni.
This second half just seems to be flying by and there have been some wonderful chances down both ends of the pitch. I did admit before the game that I didn't see there being too many goals and I am glad that I have been proved wrong.
PENALTY APPEAL! Stoke think that they should be given a spot kick when a set piece lands kindly at the feet of Diouf in the box. The striker then fires in a shot that hits the outstretched arm of Ward, but Andre Marriner waves away the home side's appeals. That really did look like a stonewall penalty and Palace have got away with one there.
YELLOW CARD! Souare is shown a yellow card for a foul on Diouf.
CHANCE! Stoke are coming close to finding the net and Adam whips in a brilliant free kick which misses everyone and has to be pushed behind by Speroni. From the resulting corner, Adam's delivery looks as if it will curl into the net, but again Speroni is there to touch the ball over the bar.
SUBSTITUTION: After picking up that booking moments ago, Souare is replaced by Kelly.
CHANCE! Adam has delivered some wonderful crosses this afternoon and he whips in a teasing low delivery right across the face of the goal. It looks as if Diouf will have the simple task of tapping it home, but Delaney gets back to make a brilliant clearance and hammers the ball to safety.
SHOT! The pressure from Stoke continues to mount and Palace really are hanging on here. The hosts also work another attempt on goal with Arnautovic cutting inside and finding some room on the edge of the box, but his fierce effort strikes N'Zonzi and heads just wide of the post.
SUBSTITUTION: Stoke are going to make their first change of the match, with Walters coming on to replace Crouch.
SUBSTITUTION: The hosts are also making a sub, with Gayle replacing Zaha.
SHOT! A third goal for Palace would finish this game now and they come close again to getting it. Bolasie is the man who threatens, as he dribbles past a couple of challenges and into the box, before firing in a low strike that is hit straight at the keeper. If there is one criticism of the Palace winger it's that he doesn't score enough goals, but everything else he has done has been fantastic.
CHANCE! Stoke waste another decent opening when Diouf latches onto a free kick from Adam at the back post. Instead of looking to pick any of his teammates out inside the box, he trys to find the net from a tight angle, but he can only drill his shot into the side netting.
SUBSTITUTION: Murray has put in a great effort for Palace this afternoon and he heads off to a huge round of applause from the visiting fans, with Ameobi on to replace him.
YELLOW CARD! Gayle picks up the seventh booking of the match for a foul on Cameron.
SHOT! Stoke are still pressing for a goal, but it just doesn't look it is going to arrive. They are throwing everyone forward and after winning a corner, Shawcross loops a header onto the roof of the net.
We are going to have four minutes of stoppage time.
CHANCE! Diouf took his goal extremely well in the first half, but he hasn't been able to find that goalscoring form since the break. He has another chance here when the ball drops to him on the edge of the box, but he gets underneath the strike and balloons it way over the bar.
FULL-TIME: Stoke City 1-2 Crystal Palace
It's all over and Crystal Palace have held on to claim a vital three points this afternoon. Stoke will complain about the first-half penalty that changed the game and they will also feel angered that they weren't awarded their own spot kick after the break.
© Getty Images
That's all from me today. We've got more live coverage coming up for you this weekend, with some huge games taking place in the Premier League and across Europe. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day, until next time, goodbye!
Written by
Alex Meyers
Alex Meyers
