EPL: Crystal Palace 2-1 Stoke City

Mamadou Sakho celebrates his winner

Mamadou Sakho grabbed a stoppage-time winner as Crystal Palace edged to a crucial 2-1 victory over Stoke City at Selhurst Park.

It was only Palace's second Premier League win of the campaign and it came in dramatic fashion with the former Liverpool defender forcing the ball home from close range after a goalmouth scramble.

The Eagles had started the game well and dominated the early possession but they were unable to create any clear-cut openings and when the Potters got forward Xherdan Shaqiri's deflected shot flew wide of Wayne Hennessey's goal.

Palace went close to opening the scoring in the 15th minute when Erik Pieters had to block Reuben Loftus-Cheek's strike following Wilfried Zaha's excellent cross.

Mark Hughes' side then began to get on top and they should have taken the lead midway through the first half when Darren Fletcher sent Shaqiri clear, but the Switzerland international mis-controlled the ball when he only had Hennessey to beat.

Shaqiri then curled another shot wide while, at the other end, Lee Grant was forced to deny James McArthur just before the interval.

Roy Hodgson brought on Christian Benteke for the second half and the Belgium international lashed a shot from a tight angle into the side-netting.

Stoke took the lead in the 53rd minute though with an outstanding Shaqiri effort. He picked the ball up on the halfway line and beat three challenges before firing a low shot past Hennessey.

However, the Eagles equalised just three minutes later when some poor defending by the visitors allowed Loftus-Cheek to beat Grant at his near post.

Both teams had chances to grab a winner with Benteke's shot being held by Grant and Stoke substitute Jese Rodriguez firing narrowly wide with his first touch of the ball.

However, there was to be one last twist to the game as Sakho netted to leave the Eagles only three points away from safety.