Palace create their first sighter of the Stoke goal. 

James McArthur, who has enjoyed himself further upfield this season, plays the ball out to Andros Townsend on the left flank, then dashes into the box to meet his delivery. 

Stoke keeper Lee Grant is rooted to his spot, watching the ball flash past his right-hand post.

Image source, Reuters

Damien Delaney, who had that row with a Palace fan during last week's defeat by Sunderland, has a few cross words with someone else now - ref Martin Atkinson.

Delaney goes into the book after clattering Ramadan Sobhi. Free-kick is aimed towards Peter Crouch, Palace head clear the danger.

Christian Benteke, warm breath visible in the cold Stoke air, beats his chest to tell his team-mates where he wants the ball to go. The Palace striker has not had a sniff yet.

Stoke edging the opening 10 minutes, according to our stats. Not much in it though.

Image source, #bbcfootball

That has certainly warmed up the home crowd. Too easy for Arnautovic though.

Chance! And the first one of the game falls to Stoke. 

A long ball from the back is won by - guess who? - Peter Crouch, the big man flicking on to Marko Arnautovic. 

The Austrian cuts inside a Palace defender, lashing a fierce shot that Wayne Hennessey pushes clear.

Palace's new boy Luka Milivojevic shows us what he can do for the first time. Playing as the holding midfielder in front of the back four, he goes for a Hollywood 60-yard spray. Finds the Stoke defence.

Palace trying to knock the ball a bit in midfield, but Patrick van Aanholt's ball forward only finds a red and white shirt.

Not the most dramatic of starts. The linesman sticking his flag up for a Palace offside has been the most energetic burst we've seen.

Whenever I see Wilfred Zaha recently he is sat on the ground looking perplexed as to why he hasn't been given a free-kick. I swear that is where he spends 95% of the game. Ref Martin Atkinson tells him to get up.

Image source, Reuters

Palace have been dodgy at the back and there is a moment of uncertainty in the opening few seconds. James Tomkins glances a header back towards his keeper Wayne Hennessey, luckily for him Peter Crouch isn't the quickest...

Here we go then. Palace, decked out in all-yellow, get the game rocking and rolling.

A quick reminder of the two teams? Sure.

Stoke: Grant, Bardsley, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters, Whelan, Adam, Sobhi, Allen, Arnautovic, Crouch. Subs: Muniesa, Johnson, Berahino, Afellay, Diouf, Imbula, Given. 

Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Ward, Tomkins, Delaney, Van Aanholt, Milivojevic, McArthur, Zaha, Puncheon, Townsend, Christian Benteke. Subs: Speroni, Flamini, Remy, Campbell, Schlupp, Sakho, Cabaye. 

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)

Handshakes and smiles on the touchline as Sam Allardyce greets Mark Hughes near the dugouts. Allardyce, if my lip-reading is right, even compliments Sparky on his new black overcoat. Very smart it is too. 

Image source, Reuters

Garth Crooks
Former Spurs striker on Final Score

Palace fans are quite rightly disillusioned and concerned. But the Eagles are capable of getting a result today, and a win would really catapult them up the table.

You know it's cold when even Mark Hughes is shivering as he strides down the touchline. Hard as nails that fella.

John Motson
Match of the Day commentator

Only goal difference is keeping Crystal Palace off the foot of the table. Their league position can't get much worse but you have to wonder when, or if, it will improve.

Under Alan Pardew and now Sam Allardyce, Palace have only won seven of their last 45 league fixtures - losing 27.

One of those wins was a 4-1 thumping of Stoke in September but the current bad run started after another victory against the Potters, at the bet365 Stadium in December 2015.

Can they emulate that win? Well, mid-table Stoke have only won twice in 10 games but a point might be viewed as a step in the right direction for Palace.

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke's players are first out of the changing room and into the tunnel, home substitute Saido Berahino high-fiving the line of mascots outside.

Some classic Eminem pumping out of the stereo too. Top marks to the DJ.

Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce on bouncing back from last week's 4-0 defeat against Sunderland: "We spoke as a group on Sunday so the lads could get it out of their system and play like they did at Bournemouth. It's another tough game.

"I expect us to be difficult to break down and then get at Stoke's defence to get a goal and hopefully go on and win the game.

"We have a good number of fans here today, many getting free coach travel so lets put on a good show for them and get a positive result."

Image source, Getty Images

A wonderfully-childish put-down from TP there. Wonder if he made the 'loser' hand signal too?