RUBEN LOFTUS-CHEEK
Been sleepwalking into trouble
AT the heart of everything that was positive about Palace, who despite being safe from relegation, scrapped for every ball. Will Loftus-cheek now get game time with parent club Chelsea next season? Lambert had been like a caged tiger in his technical area, kicking and heading every ball in a game which in his own words was “all or nothing”.
Shaqiri produced a lifeline just before the break. The Swiss weaved his way towards the danger area only for Loftus-cheek to bring him down.
The execution of the free-kick by Shaqiri under choking pressure was perfect and too good for Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey, a slight deflection off Loftus-cheek taking his eighth Premier League goal of the season into the top corner.
Shaqiri raced towards his manager, jumping into his arms as the Stoke bench went berserk.
But they never looked like building on their advantage as Palace grew in stature and carved out a succession of chances before turning the screw.
So for Palace and their fans it was party time – for Stoke a relegation wake. Butland 6, Johnson 7, Zouma 7, Shawcross 7, Pieters 8, Allen 7, Ndiaye 7, Bauer 7, Shaqiri 7, Diouf 6, Crouch 6 (Ramadan 65, 6). Subs not used: Haugaard, Ireland, Adam, Cameron, Fletcher, Campbell.
Crystal Palace
Hennessey 6, Ward 6 (Kelly 39, 6), Sakho 7, Tomkins 7, Van Aanholt 6, Milivojevic 7, Cabaye 6, Mcarthur 7, Loftuscheek 8, Townsend 7 (Schlupp 87), Zaha 7. Subs not used: Cavalieri, Sorlorth, Chung-yong, Wanbissaka, Kelly. REFEREE: Martin Atkinson 8.