Crystal Palace and Stoke City played out a 1-1 draw in this afternoon's Premier League clash at Selhurst Park.
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The hosts took the lead after just 11 minutes when Yannick Bolasie whipped a cross into the box, with James McArthur connecting with the back of his head to loop the ball over Asmir Begovic and into the net.
However, just two minutes elapsed before the visitors found themselves an equaliser. Bojan pulled the ball back for Jonathan Walters, whose shot rebounded for Peter Crouch to tap home from six yards out.
Palace went on to impose themselves on the game thereafter, with the Stoke keeper Begovic having to be alert to thwart subsequent efforts from McArthur and Bolasie.
Late on in the first half, Palace called for a penalty after Wilfried Zaha's cross appeared to strike Erik Pieters on the arm in the box, but referee Kevin Friend waved away the appeals.
Just before the hour mark in the second half, McArthur collected the ball outside the box and blasted a low drive bound for the bottom corner, but Begovic got down well to palm the effort clear.
As the minutes ticked by, the game became scrappy, as a number of challenges in the middle of the park disrupted play. While Stoke seemed the more likely, the Eagles were steadfast at the back.
The game ultimately petered out as neither side was willing to force the issue in the later stages, with a point apiece meaning that Palace sit 16th in the Premier League table, just a point above the drop zone, while Stoke are in 11th.
Giuseppe Labellarte
