A welcome return to Selhurst Park after a much needed morale lifting victory last weekend at the Riverside Stadium against Middlesbrough, and it really was time to start making the home of the Eagles a fortress again.
Optimism was high against a team currently struggling in the shape of Stoke City who Palace have beaten on the previous four occasions.
Boss Alan Pardew replaced Damien Delaney with James Tomkins at the heart of the defence for his full home Premier League debut in what was an otherwise unchanged side from last weeks win. Martin Kelly continued at left back having been handed the opportunity to prove his worth following the unfortunate injuries suffered by Pape Soaure.
Palace once again started off on the front foot and looked like a team determined to start improving their home form. Selhurst was rocking from the off and the old stadium seemed to be extra loud, everyone urging the players onto victory.
Midfielders James McArthur and Joe Ledley looked to be in complete control in the middle of the pitch, the industrious McArthur shone as he ran the show.
The structure of the team seemed to be a much more complete unit with more tenacity and desire when, in my personal view, the over-rated Yohan Cabaye is not in the team. Palace were a team playing open, attacking football.
With the visitors struggling to cope with the early pressure, Marko Arnautovic brought down Wilfried Zaha on the edge of the area. Andros Townsend stepped up to take the free kick and floated the ball into the area which was met by Tomkins who connected with a stretched right leg past the challenge of Jonathan Walters and into the bottom left corner of the net. An early lead and it was no more than the Eagles deserved for their urgency.
Palace were in no mood to settle for the slender scoreline and still posed an attacking threat which a beleaguered Stoke struggled to cope with and it did not take long for the lead to be doubled. A corner from Jason Puncheon was floated into the area where the ball was met powerfully by the head of our very own Captain Marvel despite being marked by two Stoke players. Scott Dann has now scored in each of Palace’s last three home games.
This was surreal, surely even Palace could not blow this early two goal lead?
Understandably, the hosts took their foot off the gas a little after a hectic opening fifteen minutes allowing Stoke an opportunity to try and find a way back into the game. Despite slowing the pace, Palace never looked under any threat or needing to move up a gear and the half time whistle blew with them in complete control.
In the twenty-third minute, the whole stadium joined in a round of applause for Pape Soaure following a banner that read ‘Keep strong Pape’ for the full back who is recovering from his horrific road accident.
The first blow of the game for Palace came at the break as an injured Tomkins was replaced by Irishman Damien Delaney who stepped into what looked like a more settled looking back line.
Palace looked for more goals and a corner from Townsend was once again met by the impressive Dann who met the ball perfectly only to see his effort cleared off the line by Krkic Bojan. Shortly after, a determined Delaney showed his battling qualities by dispossessing Wilfried Bony in the centre circle. Half chances to fell to both Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha after great work from Townsend out wide but Stoke managed to just about clear their lines but clearly riding their luck at this point as Palace started to stretch the game.
If the game was not over as a contest before now, it was following a foul on the impressive Townsend by Arnoutovic which earned the Austrian a booking. It was Puncheon once again who floated another ball over and after a melee in the eighteen yard box, McArthur was the man that found some space and fired the ball into the net thanks to a deflection, past the helpless Shay Given.
There was no intention by the hosts to let up and they continued to pile on the pressure against a shell shocked Stoke. Bony lost possession in the Palace half under pressure from Martin Kelly. The ball found its way to Townsend who ran with purpose to the edge of the area, and after a lovely little shimmy to line his shot up, he unleashed a superb right foot shot into the bottom corner. The fourth for the Eagles and the best goal of the game.
It was turning into an absolute rout as I found myself pinching myself. This was a stunning showing from a unsympathetic Palace side.
After a great shift by Ledley, he left the field to be replaced by Mathieu Flamini and it is interesting to see what the Frenchman can offer us different to Mile Jedinak. Perhaps being a massive Jedinak fan, it is going to take time for the former Arsenal man to win me over so time will tell.
The ever so comfortable looking Steve Mandanda in the Palace goal and the back line in front of him were heading towards claiming a well deserved clean sheet for the team. That was spoilt by a consolation for Stoke as Arnoutovic hit a crisp right foot strike past the Frenchman after good work by Bony with the last kick of the game. A cracking goal and the only way Mandanda was going to be beaten.
Conceding such a late goal should in no way take anything away from such a superb team performance from a Palace side who were just too good for what was a poor Stoke. The Eagles look to be growing in confidence with every game, ever since that late equaliser at home to Bournemouth which could turn out to be the turning point.
Exciting times when we can welcome Loic Remy back from Chelsea after treatment for his unfortunate injury. The crowd were united in singing the name of Alan Pardew one again the opening day defeat to West Bromwich Albion is fast becoming a distant memory.
SE25 is rocking. Palace are on fire. Next up, at trip to lowly Sunderland.
I have a feeling our mojo is back.
