Stoke City 1 v 3 Crystal Palace

Coca-Cola Championship

For more pictures, click on Palace Pictures

CRYSTAL Palace strenghtened their place in the Championship play-offs, with a fine victory at mid-table Stoke City.

Goals from Jobi McAnuff, Andy Johnson and a first-half own-goal by Mamady Sidibe secured all three points at the Britannia Stadium.

The Eagles' chances of automatic promotion hang by a thread and boss Iain Dowie was realistic if undeterred.

He said: "It's going to be enormously difficult to achieve automatic promotion.

"Sheffield United have had a fantastic run and so have Reading."

He added: "We think we're capable of going on a very good run but it would have to be a special run. Who knows? Never say never and I've always been an optimist."

Dowie has also been calling for Johnson to be considered for England's World Cup squad, calling him a top striker.

Despite injury, Johnson has netted 14 times this season making him the club's leading scorer ahead of Clinton Morrison on 10 and McAnuff on seven.