Crystal Palace 4-1 Stoke: Andros Townsend scores in convincing win

Crystal Palace won back-to-back Premier League games for the first time this year as they beat struggling Stoke 4-1 at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

Debutant James Tomkins gave Palace the lead after nine minutes, with his centre-back partner Scott Dann heading in a second shortly afterwards.

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James McArthur's deflected effort in the 71st minute made it 3-0 and Andros Townsend added a fine fourth after running from halfway.

Stoke, beaten 4-0 at home by Tottenham last week, did grab a late consolation through Marko Arnautovic, but they remain rock bottom of the Premier League, with 14 goals conceded in five games.

Palace, by contrast, seem to be on an upward curve, having recovered from successive defeats to start the season.

Tomkins made his first start for the Eagles after joining from West Ham in the summer, replacing Damien Delaney in defence.

Stoke also made a switch at the back as Glen Johnson made his first appearance since February.

It was a defensive quickfire double that put Palace in control of the game inside the opening 15 minutes.

First, Tomkins turned in a free-kick at the back post after Jon Walters failed to clear, before Dann powered home a header from a corner just two minutes later.

Stoke rarely looked like reducing the deficit before the break, with their best moment coming when Bony nicked the ball off Dann and then curled a shot a few yards wide.

Bony otherwise was ineffective as Stoke had just one effort on goal and one touch in the Palace box in the first half.

The hosts hardly created chances aplenty at the other end but they did go close after the break as Dann had a header cleared off the line and Shay Given saved a close-range effort from Wilfried Zaha.

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Palace did get a third in the 72nd minute as McArthur's shot from inside the box took a heavy deflection off Geoff Cameron and sailed past Given.

Townsend then added another in quick succession, racing clear in the Stoke half before cutting inside and curling a fine shot into the bottom corner.

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Stoke wasted a couple of chances for a consolation before Arnautovic curled home a first-time effort from the edge of the box deep into injury time.

Player ratings

Crystal Palace: Mandanda (6), Ward (6), Dann (8), Tomkins (7), Kelly (6), McArthur (7), Ledley (6), Zaha (7), Puncheon (7), Townsend (8), Christian Benteke (7). 

Subs used: Flamini (5), Lee (5), Delaney (6).

Stoke: Given (5), Cameron (5), Shawcross (5), Martins Indi (4), Johnson (5), Whelan (5), Allen (5), Walters (4), Krkic (5), Arnautovic (5), Bony (4). 

Subs used: Diouf (5).

Man of the match: Andros Townsend.

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