Danny Butterfield's hat-trick helped Crystal Palace beat Wolves 3-1 in their FA Cup fourth round replay and earned his cash-strapped club about £400,000.Palace, who went into administration in January, picked up £90,000 for beating Wolves and £72,000 because the replay was shown live on television.
The fifth round tie against Aston Villa is also due to be televised, on 14 February, earning a further £247,500.
"We showed the country we are far from dead," said Palace boss Neil Warnock.
Should Palace, who were placed into administration on 27 January after a season beset by financial difficulties, beat Villa, they will win an additional £180,000 from the Football Association prize fund.
The Championship club were also deducted 10 points, which has resulted in them slipping from four points below the play-off places to four points above the relegation zone.
They have beaten us and beaten us well, they thoroughly deserved it. We didn't mark for the first goal and after that it was a downward spiral - we were out-thought and out-fought
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy
But they gained a morale-boosting win against Peterborough on Saturday and have now lost only one of their last nine matches in all competitions.
Warnock revealed that the players were paid their January wages a couple of hours before kick-off, and then admitted he was "sorry" for chairman Simon Jordan.
"There are not many supporters like him, prepared to throw away £25m to £35m," added Warnock.
"He's tried and tried to sell the club. He's not coming to games at the moment - I don't know why. I told him he could sit on the bench and no-one would notice him.
"One or two people blame him for the 10-point deduction but if anyone is going to blame him it should be me for losing 10 points when I thought we could go up.
"But I don't blame him at all, I know how hard he has worked.
"So hopefully now someone else will come in. We're going back to basics. No prima donnas, none of the stories you see on the front pages these days. This is real football."
Butterfield, a full-back who had been switched to the wing because of a shortage of players, epitomised the performance put in by the Championship club, who hit three goals in six minutes to raise their spirits and send their Premier League opponents crashing.
Warnock's side created plenty of chances in a high-tempo first half as Wolves struggled to establish any sort of rhythm.
They took their game to another level in the second period and Butterfield sent the home crowd wild with a 'perfect hat-trick' - scoring with his head, as well his right and left foot.
"I told Danny he would score but I didn't think he'd get three," stated Warnock. "I just fancied him, we are a bit thin on the ground in numbers at the moment.
"He has been very lively in training. I don't know what he's on but I want some of it."
Butterfield, 30, opened the scoring in the 62nd minute, stooping to nod in the rebound after Matt Lawrence's header had been beaten out by Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessey.
Three minutes later it was two, the defender latching on to a cushioned volley from Darren Ambrose as Wolves looked for an offside flag and sliding the ball past Hennessey.
Been falling out of love with the beautiful game due to our recent financial disaster but even if they shut down Palace this story will be told to my grandchildren - an incredible night, one to be proud of
southlondonweloveyou
And Butterfield, whose most recent goal for Palace came on 26 December 2008, was in dreamland in the 68th minute when he ran on to Alan Lee's flick-on and finished powerfully.
"The first one he was in the right place, the second was a great ball from Ambrose - and I thought he was a bit nonchalant with the third," added Warnock.
"His goals got him man of the match but we had 11 out there."
With Palace forced to sell striker Victor Moses to Wigan on Monday to ease their financial plight, Butterfield's heroics could hardly have come at a better time for the Eagles.
"I still can't believe it's happened," beamed Butterfield. "I'm normally a one goal every four seasons man, so three in one night is unbelievable.
"I think I was a day too late, I could have perhaps gone for £4m or £5m yesterday."
Karl Henry lashed in a late reply for Wolves but it offered little consolation to manager Mick McCarthy.
"I should congratulate Palace," said McCarthy, who cleaned Warnock's boots during the pair's playing days at Barnsley.
"They have beaten us and beaten us well. They thoroughly deserved it. We didn't mark for the first goal and after that it was a downward spiral.
"We were out-thought and out-fought. I didn't see it coming. But I'm not going to condemn my team - I've already done that to them personally."
Source: BBC Sport
LIVE SCORES
