March 13 2006

Andy Johnson

Crystal Palace kept their Championship play-off hopes on track with a 3-1 triumph at Stoke City.

The Eagles took the lead in the 30th minute after good work from Emmerson Boyce on the right.

He delivered a teasing cross along the six yard box and Mamady Sidiby slid in under the challenge of Jobi McAnuff to divert past his own keeper Steve Simonson.

Stoke levelled two minutes into the second half as Josip Skoko lofted the ball over Gabor Kiraly when a left-side throw-in was flicked on into the dangerzone.

But Palace hit back seconds later, when McAnuff's deflected shot from inside the area gave Simonson no chance for 2-1.

Andy Johnson put the game beyond Stoke's reach, latching onto McAnuff's ball over the top and outpacing Clint Hill to despatch into the bottom corner on 58.

Michael Hughes could have made it four into stoppage time, but smashed Johnson's left-side cross onto the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.

Palace: Kiraly, Boyce, Hall, Ward, Borrowdale, Riihilahti, Hughes, Watson (Leigertwood), McAnuff (Soares), Morrison, Johnson.

Not used: Speroni, Freedman, Reich.

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