Crystal Palace 2-1 Stoke City: Heroes, villains and player ratings as Eagles reach FA Cup quarter-finals

Crystal Palace marched on to the quarter finals stage of this season’s FA Cup thanks to a late strike from substitute Jairo Riedewald.

Cheikhou Kouyate hammered home the lead for Palace, but Stoke levelled almost immediately through Josh Tymon.

And from there the Championship side seemed to have had the better of the exchanges, before manager Patrick Vieira made changes by throwing in both Jeffrey Schlupp and Jairo Riedewald.

Substitute Riedewald slotted in the winner after Jack Bonham punched away Conor Gallagher’s cross.

The win means the Eagles are just one win away from going to Wembley for the semi-finals of this year’s FA Cup.

Heroes

Jairo Riedewald

A great cameo for the midfielder, who has been on the outside and looking in for most of Patrick Vieira’s time at Selhurst Park.

His control, calmness and finish to give the Eagles the win and send his side through to the quarter final stage of the competition will give the technical team something to think about going forward.

The best way to make a point to a manager is to come on and define a game, and the 25-year-old midfielder certainly did that today.

Michael Olise

A true star of this Crystal Palace side, and he will be lighting up the Premier League for years to come.

In a game where Palace struggled to dominate consistently, the young forward was a danger every time he ventured forward.

He looked interested and is beginning to be the main man in the attack, which will be music to Eagles fans who have been calling for him to start games since the start of the season. He is a brilliant footballer.

Villains

Jean-Philippe Mateta

This was not a great night for the young French forward, who spent all game chasing every ball that was sent forward.

But you just got the feeling that he was trying too much and didn’t get the goal he so desperately needed.

He is clearly the lead striker at the club at the moment, but fans will expect him to improve on his hold-up play and general movement in tight spaces to keep Benteke and Edouard on the bench permanently.

This was not a great example of what every Eagle fan wants from their new target man.

Will Hughes

The midfielder has his quality, but there is a feeling that he just lacks the physicality that comes with playing in the advanced stages of cup competitions.

Did the basics well and had some nice touches but was rightfully withdrawn for Conor Gallagher as Patrick Vieira went in search of a winner.

He looks like he is a great guy to have in the dressing room, and certainly has his skill set, but it’s hard to see him playing week in and in out for Palace at this point.

Player ratings

Gallagher 6

Andersen- 8

Riedewald 6.5

Olise 7.5

Guéhi 6

Kouyaté 6

Adaramola 5.5

Butland 6

Benteke 5

Clyne 5.5

Schlupp 4

Hughes 4

Mateta 5

Milivojevic 4.5

J Ayewc 4.5

Zaha 5.5