Neil Warnock said Crystal Palace produced their "best away performance of the season" after they beat Stoke 2-1 at the Britannia Stadium.The result lifts the Eagles into the Championship play-off places at the expense of Wolves, while Stoke remain in second place behind leaders Bristol City.

The Palace boss also claimed that what his side had worked on in training had proved instrumental in the victory.

"We were able to deal with everything they threw at us," Warnock said.

"Free-kicks, long balls and corners were being thrown in at us from pretty much all angles.

"It's not going to be pretty to watch but we tried to get the ball down and play as much we could.

"Everybody put their heads in where it hurt and it was a typical Neil Warnock-type performance with our never-say-die attitude so I'm delighted.

"We had to defend well - you know what you're likely to get here.

"And what we did in training, in terms of working against the long balls and long throws, pretty much came off.

"We got back to being solid to the back. We defended from the front as well - Clinton (Morrison) worked hard and battled which was pleasing to see.

"It's the best away performance we have had since I've been the club."

Tom Soares had put the Eagles ahead in the 21st minute with a close-range header in a first half which Stoke had dominated.

Palace defender Jose Fonte then doubled the advantage with a superb long-range strike on the stroke of half-time.

Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan pulled a goal back with an equally impressive strike six minutes before full-time but the visitors held on to claim the points.

Warnock admitted he was quite surprised to see Fonte score in such spectacular fashion.

"You can't legislate for your centre-back scoring a goal like that," he added.

"I don't know what he was doing wearing white boots - a centre-back in white boots is a disgrace! Certainly it was in my playing days.

"But he can carry on wearing them if he scores goals like that."

Stoke manager Tony Pulis admitted his side were "short on luck" after they missed the chance to climb to the top of the Championship table.

Whelan eventually found the net for Stoke but the Potters struggled to convert their dominance into goals.

Mamady Sidibe hit the woodwork in the ninth minute with a header from a Rory Delap long throw-in and Pulis felt if it had gone in the outcome could have been different.

"Full credit the lads - they produced a fantastic second-half performance and really had a go," Pulis said.

"A lot of teams could have crumbled and we missed a little bit short on luck as much as anything else.

"Their second goal just before half-time killed it and that really knocked us.

"Sidibe hit the post and Stephen Pearson went close and if they went it could have been a different story. "But we never gave in and that bodes well for the next four games.

"The season has been like this, teams have been winning when they shouldn't be winning, and losing when they shouldn't be losing.

"It's so close at the moment. I don't think you can separate the top few teams.

"We're disappointed with the result but I'm not disappointed with the players' attitude."

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