Stoke City 0 - 1 Crystal Palace

Andy Johnson's 27th minute header was enough to give Palace a much needed three points and a much needed jump up the table. Johnson bulletted home Curtis Fleming's right wing cross past Ed de Goey for his 10th goal of the season. Palace played some slick football, although Stoke had the lions share of posession. The Potters had 19 attempts at goal, but disappointingly for them only 6 on target. When they did find the target, Palace keeper Thomas Mhyre was again in fine form. The lively Johnson could have had another goal but was thwarted by a fine last ditch tackle. Freedman also could have put the game beyond Stoke's reach, but after some good interplay with Johnson he screwed his shot just wide. Palace looked better up front without the suspended Shipperley, and the service to the front two was much better than of late with Black, Hughes and Derry restored to the side. Caretaker manager Kit Symons relegated himself to the bench after picking up a slight injury at Walsall, allowing Rob Edwards to make his full debut, and the Welshman did a decent job. All in all a much better performance and result and we can look forward to Saturday's encounter with Coventry with renewed optimism.