Tom soars above stuttering Stoke

Soares headed the opener for Palace after 22 minutes at a chilly Britannia Stadium and Fonte doubled the lead in the final seconds of the first half.

Glenn Whelan's superb right-foot volley from outside the box five minutes from time gave Stoke hope but Palace managed to cling on.

The home side knew that a point would be enough to take them above Bristol City into first place on goal difference but clearly wanted more and after eight minutes Mamady Sidibe was within inches of putting them in front with a header that just beat the diving Julian Speroni, hit the inside of a post and then rolled along the line.

But Palace had attacking ideas of their own, knowing that a win would lift them into the top six, and were given a big boost by Soares, although Scott Sinclair, on loan from Chelsea, had to be given much of the credit for the goal.

Sinclair produced the skill that has set him out as a star in the making with a fine run from the right and then provided the cross that midfielder Soares met to head in at the far post.

There was plenty of effort from both sides and no shortage of opportunities. After 27 minutes Stephen Pearson, scorer of the goal that won the play-off final for Derby last year, threatened to mark his first home appearance of a loan spell for Stoke with the equaliser. He hit a low left-foot shot but saw if deflected behind for a corner.

After 39 minutes Fonte saved Palace with a tackle on Sidibe as the striker was about to shoot. Then in the first minute of time added on at the end of the half by referee Mark Clattenburg, Palace struck again.

The goal followed a free kick from Ben Watson. Stoke's attempt to clear went only as far as Shaun Derry, who put the ball straight back into the danger area. Fonte reacted smartly and the defender — who is on loan from Benfica — smashed his shot past Carlo Nash from the edge of the penalty area for his first goal for the club.

Stoke went all out from the start of the second half and pushed Palace back. Speroni was forced into a fine save in the 54th minute, turning over a powerful cross-shot from Richard Cresswell that was heading just inside the angle of the near post and crossbar.

Ricardo Fuller, who started on the bench after a two-match ban, replaced Sidibe and had a chance in the 69th minute but his low shot was well saved by Speroni. Then midfielder Whelan ensured an exciting finale with his stunning goal but it was not enough for Stoke.