A blow for Palace as goal-scorer Connor Wickham slowly makes his way from the pitch with injury. He will be replaced by Marouane Chamakh.

Stoke are playing as though there's only five minutes left, never mind 30 minutes. Palace scramble the ball away twice as the hosts once again look menacing in the final third.

Oohhh... Palace almost make it 2-0, again against the run of play. Yannick Bolasie puts in a teasing ball from the left and James McArthur gets to it at the far post but turns the ball wide after being put off by the imposing presence of Jack Butland.

Stoke just don't seem to be 100% on it today. They win a free-kick 30 yards out but the chance is wasted when Marko Arnautovic puts the set-piece over the bar. Not even close.

With Manchester United losing against Norwich - 2-0, in case you were wondering - it means Palace are currently level on points with LvG's men. Not a bad way to head into Christmas.

A daisycutter of a shot from Glen Johnson is well saved by Wayne Hennessey. This game has sparked into life now.

There's more urgency about Stoke after the break and Ibrahim Afellay chests the ball down on the edge of the box but slices his shot wide under pressure from a Palace defender.

Yannick Bolasie blazes well over as Crystal Palace begin on the front foot.

Slade's Merry Christmas greets the players for the second half.

Tune.

"Are you hanging up a stocking on your wallIt's the time that every santa has a ballDoes he ride a red-nose reindeer?"  

Chris Sutton
Former Chelsea & Norwich striker on Final Score

"Everybody laughed at me when I said Crystal Palace would finish above Spurs this season. 

"But they have played well again today - and without Yohan Cabaye. They are set up well for the counter attack."

Image source, Getty Images

Danny Mills
Former Man City defender, Final Score

"I think that was a penalty, a challenge from behind. It was soft but it was a spot-kick. And Wickham hit that so hard - it hit the back of the net and straight back out again!"  

Image source, Getty Images

James Calder: So pleased for Wickham. Yes, it's from a penalty but he's earned it with the past few weeks' performances.

Palace are a bit fortunate to be going into the break in front. The first thing Jack Butland has had to do all day is pick the ball out of the net. Stoke will question why Glenn Whelan nibbled at Wilfried Zaha's ankles, with the winger running away from goal.

Not that Pardew's boys are complaining. 

Don't go for that pie! Glenn Whelan has just bundled over Wilfried Zaha in the box...

Go and grab a half-time pie before the rush. I don't think anything is going to happen here any time soon.

The stats tell a tale here - Stoke have had seven attempts on goal to Palace's two. Only one Stoke effort has been on target. None for Palace.

Image source, Getty Images

Chance for Stoke as Erik Pieters sees his cross on the left deflected goalwards by Marco van Ginkel and it comes back off the post with the keeper beaten.

Jason Puncheon is playing very central this afternoon for Palace, who need a bit more width down the left with Wilfried Zaha stretching Stoke on the other flank.

Image source, Opta

That was almost magical from Marko Arnautovic who held off two men and pinged the ball 40 yards but the Palace keeper gets there before the Stoke forward. A warning for the Eagles though.