Lee Chung-Yong's late goal gave Crystal Palace a 2-1 away win at Stoke on Saturday as Alan Pardew's side continued to confound the critics with their best ever start to a top-flight season.

The result would have been sweet news to brand new American stake holders Josh Harris and David Blitzer, who already own NBA team the Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL's New Jersey Devils, and who bought a 36% stake in Palace this week.

The result lifted the South Londoners to a lofty sixth place, level on 29 points with Tottenham in fourth and Manchester United in fifth.

Lee's 88th minute clincher was a real beauty as the South Korean fired into the bottom corner of the Stoke goal from outside the box with the clock ticking down.

Palace had taken a morale-boosting lead from the penalty spot when Connor Wickham fired past Jack Butland just before half time.

Mark Hughes' Stoke side looked shocked going in after keeping seven clean sheets at home this season. But they pulled level with a penalty of their own as Bojan Krkic converted with 15 minutes to go.

Stoke though were left to rue missed chances from Marko Arnautovic, Charlie Adam and Xherdan Shaqiri as they dominated large parts of the late action coming in pursuit of the winner, peppering Palace with shots in front of a sell-out crowd.

Last week's 2-0 victory over Manchester City was not to be repeated and the away win for Palace was their 11th in the Premier League since Pardew took charge in January.