Crystal Palace 1-0 Stoke
Crystal Palace progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup with a home win over Stoke inspired by goal-scorer Wilfried Zaha.
The talented winger built on his improving form and growing confidence with a fine individual strike at Shelhurst Park that was enough to secure victory against uninspired opposition.
Manager Alan Pardrew promised to prioritise the FA Cup, a competition he feels his team can realistically win.
And he backed this up as he made only two changes to the team which last week lost 3-1 in the Premier League to Tottenham, the side again captained by former Ireland international Damien Delaney.
One switch was forced upon him by Connor Wickham’s three-match suspension after he admitted an FA charge of violent conduct following an incident with Spurs' Jan Vertonghen.
Fraizer Campbell took his place and Lee Chung-yong also started over James McArthur in a more attacking-looking shape.
Pardew predicted midweek that Palace's preparations for this fixture had been easier than Stoke's, and their visitors made eight changes to the team that lost on penalties to Liverpool in Tuesday's Capital One Cup semi-final.
Only Erik Pieters, Philipp Wollscheid and Bojan were retained from the team that played over 120 minutes midweek.
Beyond occasional glimpses of quality from the talented Xherdan Shaqiri, Mark Hughes' team was largely flat and offered minimal threat, suiting Palace and particularly the in-form Zaha, pictured below with Marco van Ginkel.
It was he who created, and scored, the game's opening goal in the after 16 minute.
Collecting possession in a central position on the edge of the area, he produced a classy moment of skill to beat Stephen Ireland and Marc Wilson and create the space to finish between goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard's legs.
Stoke’s problems lay with their inability to create convincing goalscoring chances.
Joselu headed over one reasonable Shaqiri cross towards the end of the first half, and Shaqiri also curled an effort high on the stroke of half-time.
Palace did not quite share their problem. Theirs came largely in Campbell's lack of confidence in front of goal.
He failed to convert chances new signing Emmanuel Adebayor, not even a substitute owing to a lack of match fitness, and reported Swansea transfer target Dwight Gayle, surprisingly also not involved, would have relished.
Ten minutes after half-time Campbell drew one fine save from Haugaard with a close-range, first-time shot following a cross from Pape Souare, but with another from Lee, despite time and space, he struck harmlessly over.
Logically the one-goal lead and wasted chances would have made Palace appear vulnerable.
But with Zaha so impressive and repeatedly creating chances, and Stoke offering so little, they rarely were and should have secured victory by a more convincing scoreline.
