Palace move into playoff position with win over Stoke
Ameobi missed a number of chances in Stoke's defeat against Palace
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Monday, 07, Apr 2008 10:52
Crystal Palace have moved into a playoff position while also denting the promotion ambitions of one of their rivals following a 2-1 win at Stoke City.
Stoke were aiming to claim first place from Bristol City, after they had slipped up against Southampton on Saturday, however, they failed to take advantage of a host of chances in the second half.
Palace defended well and rode their luck at times to gives themselves a realistic chance of making the playoffs with five matches remaining.
Stoke enjoyed the best of the opening period and went close to scoring when Mamady Sidibe headed a long throw-in against the woodwork.
Palace continued to fight and took a surprise lead when Scott Sinclair, on-loan from Chelsea, crossed to the far post for Tom Soares to nod home.
They extended their lead on the stroke of half time. As Stoke attempted to clear a corner the ball dropped to Jose Fonte on the edge of the area and he rifled a shot into the back of the net.
After the break Stoke attacked the Palace goal with renewed vigour and created plenty of chances but their strikers were not clinical enough in front of goal.
Leon Cort and Shola Ameobi both headed narrowly wide at the start of the half before Tony Pulis added Ricardo Fuller as a third striker as he became desperate to find a way past the Palace defence.
Fuller almost rewarded him with a goal but after he beat two men inside the box he was brilliantly denied by Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni.
Ameobi then spurned the best chance of the match when he missed from four yards out with the goal at his mercy.
Glenn Whelan pulled a goal back for Stoke with five minutes remaining but it was too little too late and Palace went on to secure the three points.
Stoke remain one point behind Bristol City while Palace moved into sixth place ahead of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Ipswich and Charlton.