Andy Johnson scored a first-half hat-trick as in-form Crystal Palace recorded a crushing victory against Stoke.
Striker Johnson took his personal tally to 18 goals in 16 games as Iain Dowie's Eagles secured their fifth straight victory and edged closer to the play-off places.
Johnson opened the scoring with a neat lob after five minutes and although John Eustace equalised moments later, the forward scored twice from the penalty
spot to seemingly put the Eagles in command.
Clive Clarke made it 3-2 with a well-taken shot from the edge of the box after 44 minutes, but a Michael Hughes header in first-half injury-time restored the
home side's two-goal cushion.
Neil Shipperley scored his fifth goal of the campaign 10 minutes into the second half, Carl Asaba brought it back to 5-3 with a late penalty, before a fine piece of individual skill from Wayne Routledge completed the scoring for
Palace.
The home side got off to the perfect start when Johnson beat the offside trap and lobbed the ball over the advancing Ed de Goey.
Their joy was short-lived, however, because Stoke equalised 60 seconds later.
A free-kick 20 yards out was drilled under the Palace wall by Eustace and into the bottom corner.
The Eagles were quickly back on the attack and were awarded a penalty in the ninth minute when Julian Gray was brought down by Paul Williams in the area.
As Gray limped off to receive treatment, Johnson sent de Goey the wrong way to net his second of the afternoon.
Johnson could easily have completed his treble with a near-post header from Routledge's inviting cross, but the lively striker did not have too long to wait.
He was pushed to the ground under challenge by Williams as the pair waited for a high ball to drop, and the referee once again pointed to the spot.
Johnson dusted himself down and slammed the ball straight down the middle to net his 24th goal of an impressive season.
City were thrown a lifeline after 44 minutes when Clarke thumped home a shot from the edge of the box, but slack marking allowed Hughes to head in Shipperley's cross in first-half injury-time to undo the Potters' hard work.
Ade Akinbiyi spurned a golden chance to pull another goal back for the visitors shortly after the restart as he blazed the ball over the crossbar, and Palace made them pay from their next attack.
Hughes this time provided the cross for Shipperley to climb above Williams and nod the the ball past de Goey.
Gray volleyed wide and Johnson sent a shot past the post as Palace continued to pour forward, but it was Stoke who were next on the scoresheet.
Kris Commons was brought down by Tony Popovic, and Asaba made no mistake with his spot-kick.
However, Palace ensured they had the final say as Routledge turned past two defenders in the box before poking the ball past the goalkeeper.
Teams
Crystal Palace: Berthelin, Butterfield, Hudson, Popovic,
Granville, Routledge, Riihilahti (Leigertwood 84),
Hughes (Derry 84), Gray, Johnson (Freedman 88), Shipperley.
Subs Not Used: Black, Borrowdale.
Booked: Hughes, Leigertwood.
Goals: Johnson 5, 9 pen, 33 pen, Hughes 45, Shipperley 55,
Routledge 90.
Stoke: de Goey, Thomas, Williams, Halls,
Marcus Hall (Commons 45), Russell, Svard,
Eustace (Noel-Williams 63), Clarke, Akinbiyi, Asaba.
Subs Not Used: Hoekstra, Cutler, Wilson.
Booked: Clarke, Eustace.
Goals: Eustace 6, Clarke 45, Asaba 83 pen.
Att: 16,715
Ref: R Styles (Hampshire).
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