Crystal Palace 1-0 Stoke City: Zaha dumps Potters out of second cup in a week

The former Manchester United winger became the first Eagles player to score at Selhurst Park since December 12 to send his side through to the fifth round

Crystal Palace snapped a three-game losing run by claiming a 1-0 victory over Stoke City in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday, consigning Mark Hughes's men to a second cup exit in the space of a week.

Palace had won just one of their previous seven matches in all competitions – against Southampton in the last round of this competition.

But Wilfried Zaha sealed their progression in the 17th minute with the first goal by a Palace player at Selhurst Park since December 12.

Emmanuel Adebayor was left out of the Palace squad as he looks to regain match fitness but the Eagles were able to overcome a Stoke side sporting eight changes from their League Cup semi-final heartbreak at Liverpool on Tuesday.

Zaha's goal was just reward for a strong start by the home side, who felt Stoke should have seen Marc Wilson sent off before the interval.

Stoke enjoyed a brief spell of pressure midway through the second period but were unable to find a way through the Palace defence, leaving them to focus on their Premier League campaign.

Palace started brightly and carved out the first opportunity when Lee Chung-yong – scorer of the late winner in their 2-1 victory at the Britannia Stadium in December - dribbled into a promising position only to drag his shot wide.

Zaha then opened the scoring by dancing past two Stoke defenders before slotting beyond goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard.

Joselu was Stoke's most dangerous attacking threat in the first half and volleyed narrowly over the crossbar in the 25th minute before heading a Xherdan Shaqiri cross just wide moments later.

Wilson was fortunate to escape with a yellow card following a heavy challenge on Fraizer Campbell and referee Mark Clattenburg drew further ire from the stands for failing to stop the game for a tackle on Yohan Cabaye before Shaqiri fired just over.

Palace remained in control, though, at the start of the second half, with Joel Ward watching an effort bounce wide and Pape Souare forcing Haugaard to tip over his crossbar.

Wayne Hennessey did need to deny Peter Odemwingie with his legs at the end of a Stoke break as Shaqiri and Bojan Krkic started to poke holes in the Palace defence.

But Zaha - in inspired form - came closest to netting the second goal with a shot across goal that snuck just wide having almost teed up Scott Dann for a close-range finish moments earlier.