Crystal Palace 4 Stoke 1: James Tomkins and Scott Dann net early to heap more early season misery on Mark Hughes as Potters remain bottom of the Premier League

CRYSTAL PALACE had their centre-back pair of James Tomkins and Scott Dann to thank as they heaped more early season misery on Stoke.

The defenders both netted within the first 15 minutes as Alan Pardew‘s side cruised to an easy victory which leaves the Potters rock bottom.

PA:Press Association

Reuters

PA:Press Association

Wilfried Bony had a glorious chance to get Stoke back in the game late in the first half but dragged his shot wide when one-on-one.

And as Stoke pushed forward to try and get back in the game, James McArthur struck a late deflected third before Andros Townsend completed the rout from long-range.

Hughes was serenaded with a chorus of 'Sacked in the morning' as his side limply held up the white flag, despite a last minute Marko Arnautovic strike.

See the player ratings for this game here.

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FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS

• CRYSTAL PALACE beat Stoke City three times last season. Twice in the Premier League and in the FA Cup.  But 2-0 up after 11 minutes was more than they expected. It was two just two and a half minutes later. Less time than it takes to boil an egg.
• FANS performed a minute’s applause bang on 23 minutes - to send a loud get well message to left back Papa Souare who is recovering after being involved in a car crash last Sunday on the M4 motorway and needing to be airlifted to hospital.
• Palace officials showed their gratitude to the Air Ambulance service - which is a charity - with a special mention in the matchday programme and by making a donation to help keep the life-saving helicopters flying.
• JAMES TOMKINS was handed his Premier League debut by Palace following a £12 million summer move from West Ham. It was understandable he should be excited but he was quickly caught out by TV cameras trying to claim Jon Walters’ own goal as his own five minutes in.
• PALACE have now won back-to-back Premier League games for the first time this season. And won’t win another this comfortably.

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• TOMKINS dream start and his big chance to impress boss Alan Pardew was cut short at half time. He had to come off injured and be replaced by Damien Delaney having picked up a knock making a tackle earlier.
• THE EARLY capitulation of Stoke’s defence means The wonky Potters have now failed to keep a clean sheet in the last 15 Premier League games. And that was way back on March 2 when they played a Newcastle team spiralling downwards towards relegation.
• IRONICALLY, this was the first time Palace had scored four  goals or more in a match since November last year - funnily enough a 5-1 thumping of hapless Newcastle again. Bless those generous Geordies.
• ANDROS TOWNSEND’S long range strike that rubbed Stoke’s faces in the dirt for 4-0 was his first goal since signing for the club in the summer - from where? Yes, you guessed it, Newcastle!!
• PALACE’S charismatic new keeper Steve Mandanda has a reputation for his nifty footwork as a supposed ‘ball-playing’ keeper who likes to dribble out of his box. Hmm. He can also go route one too as demonstrated in the 60th minute with a huge goal kick that bounced just once before being gratefully coll9ected by City keeper Shay Given at the other end of the pitch. Best league in the world?

SOCIAL SAYS

THE BIG PICTURE

DREAM TEAM RATINGS

CRYSTAL PALACE: Mandanda 6, Ward 7, Tomkins 7, Dann 7, Kelly 6, McArthur 8, Ledley 7, Zaha 8, Puncheon 8, Townsend 8, Benteke 7.

Goals: Tomkins (9'), Dann (11'), McArthur (71'), Townsend (75').

Booked: McArthur, Puncheon.

STOKE CITY: Given 5, Johnson 6, Shawcross 6, Cameron 6, Martins Indi 6, Allen 7, Whelan 6, Walters 6, Bojan 6, Bony 6, Arnautovic 6.

Goals: Arnautovic (90').

Booked: Arnautovic

STAR MAN: Andros Townsend, 8.