A stunning early solo goal from Wilfried Zaha was enough to hand Crystal Palace a 1-0 victory over Stoke City at Selhurst Park as The Eagles progressed through to the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Palace, fielding the stronger lineup, almost went ahead after five minutes when Chung-yong Lee's cross found Fraizer Campbell unmarked at the back post, but the striker's volley was poor and was hit into the ground before bouncing harmlessly wide of the goal.
Palace finally took a deserved lead on eighteen minutes when Zaha received a pass on the edge of the area, before a wonderful piece of skill took him around two Stoke players and the winger raced towards the goal and cooly slotted the ball through the legs of Stoke goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard.
Palace looked much-improved
Palace have looked shy in front of goal in recent games, and when Jan Vertonghen put through his own net last week, it was the first time Palace had scored in the league since mid-December. However, Alan Pardew's side looked rejuvenated and came close once again almost straight after the restart when Joe Ledley stretched to get on the end of a Pape Souare cross, but his effort flew over the bar when he really should have scored.
Stoke grew into the game in the closing stages of the half and Xherdan Shaqiri was enjoying success on Stoke's left side, but his best contribution was a cross that evaded everyone in the penalty area. Marc Wilson had his side's best opportunity but when he found himself unmarked at a corner, however his header was weak and failed to trouble Wayne Hennessey, who had kept his place in the Palace goal.
Wilson was then involved in a controversial incident as the half came to a close. Campbell and Lee exchanged passes, before the former touched the ball past the Stoke defender, who brought down Campbell in the process when it seemed the Palace striker was clear through on goal. Referee Mark Clattenburg only produced a yellow card, but many people in the stadium expected a red to be produced, especially as the situation was akin to that of the tackle from Per Mertesacker on Diego Costa last week, a game which Clattenburg also took charge of but Mertesacker was sent off.
Yohan Cabaye suffered an ankle injury late in the half after being on the end of a heavy Stephen Ireland challenge, and the Frenchman had to be replaced at half-time by Jordon Mutch, while Ledley was also replaced by Mile Jedinak.
Palace edge through in second half
Palace once again started the half as the better side, but Stoke were much improved and began to nullify the threat of Zaha, albeit it was far too late.
The Potters, who seemed lethargic throughout, failed to create many clear-cut chances until late in the game, the best coming through Joselu who saw his volley flash inches wide of Hennessey's goal. Peter Crouch came on as a second-half substitute as Stoke searched for an equaliser but he was unable to earn Stoke a replay, although he did have a header which was well saved.
Palace had several chances to double their advantage; the first coming when Campbell cleverly flicked a near-post effort towards goal, but Haugaard managed to tip it onto the crossbar at full stretch. Zaha then went on another surging run but his final effort whizzed just wide of the left-hand post.
Marouane Chamakh made a rare appearance as a late sub and he almost created a goal for Jordon Mutch, but his cut-back was intercepted by Philipp Wollscheid as Palace edged past their Premier League opponents.
Pardew believes Palace can go all the way
Alan Pardew hailed his side's performance and claimed they could go all the way and lift the cup at Wembley, telling his press-conference, “lesser teams have won the competition recently so we have a real chance.”
Stoke boss Mark Hughes was left disappointed by the result, and told the media, “it's been a difficult week for us all.”
Hughes' side suffered their second cup defeat in just four days having been knocked out of the League Cup by on Wednesday.
Palace will find out who their fifth round opponents are when the draw is made tomorrow evening.