Crystal Palace demolish Stoke City to make it back-to-back victories

Crystal Palace have defeated struggling Stoke City 4-1 to make it back-to-back wins in the Premier League.

James Tomkins, Scott Dann, James McArthur and Andros Townsend were all on target as the Eagles built on last week's victory over Middlesbrough and piled more pressure on Potters boss Mark Hughes.

Palace took the game by the throat and found themselves a goal to the good in the ninth minute when debutant Tomkins took advantage of poor Stoke defending to bundle a free kick home at the far post.

Three minutes later, more sloppy defending from the Potters allowed Dann to nod in a corner to double the home side's advantage and send them into the break at two up.

Set pieces proved the visitors' undoing once again in the 71st minute when another free kick was only partially cleared, allowing McArthur to rifle the ball beyond Shay Given for 3-0.

Townsend added a fourth moments later from open play, capitalising on the space he found on the edge of the box to fire home another for Palace.

Arnautovic bagged a late consolation for Stoke but Hughes's side remain bottom of the table with just one point to their name, while the Eagles soar to eighth place.