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.
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