Stoke 1-2 Crystal Palace

Fonte's decisive goal was his first for Crystal Palace

Stoke City missed the chance to go top of the Championship as Crystal Palace climbed into the play-off places.

Palace took the lead against the run of play, Tom Soares heading in unmarked in the 21st minute after great work from Scott Sinclair down the right.

Jose Fonte's long range strike doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time after Stoke had earlier hit the post.

Glenn Whelan pulled one back for Stoke with a 20-yard volley with five minutes to go, but Palace held on for the win.

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Stoke City boss Tony Pulis:
"We didn't get the luck we needed tonight. The header from Mamady Sidibe which hit the inside of the post would have gone in a few weeks ago.

"We had lot of chances to get back in the game and it just wouldn't go in, but I saw enough to stay confident.

"The second half I thought we bombarded them but it just wouldn't drop for us."

Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock:
"It's not easy coming to Stoke, you know you are going to be very physically tested throughout.

"I thought we played some great football at times and we scored a couple of good goals too, which helped.

"We were positive and I'm proud of them as the tackles were flying in. It was a great win, I love winning like that."

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Stoke: Nash, Griffin, Riggott, Cort, Pugh, Whelan, Delap, Pearson (Bothroyd 77), Cresswell, Sidibe (Fuller 56), Ameobi.
Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Shawcross, Dickinson.

Goals: Whelan 85.

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Lawrence, Hudson, Fonte, Hill, Sinclair (Fletcher 89), Soares (Scannell 89), Watson, Derry, Moses (Reid 56), Morrison.
Subs Not Used: Robinson, Butterfield.

Booked: Hudson, Fletcher.

Goals: Soares 23, Fonte 45.

Att: 15,756.

Ref: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).