Palace finished the game with nine men but took the points though with goals from Jon Macken and Michael Hughes.

Macken opened the scoring on 14 minutes, finishing from close range after Andrew Johnson had crossed from the right.

Hughes made it two midway through the second-half with a powerful left foot shot from 25 yards.

Owen Garvan returned to the side for the first time since October with Town playing a five man midfield, Nicky Forster operating up front on his own.

Johnson almost gave Palace a dream start with a header flashing side of the back post, Tony Popovic inches away from getting a final touch.

Lewis Price clawed Ben Watson's free-kick off the line after the England U21 international had curled the ball around the wall from 18 yards before the Eagles opened the scoring on 14 minutes..

Johnson's explosive pace created space inside the Town box and his cross was converted by Macken from close range.

Popovic became the first of four yellow cards in the first-half for Palace, blocking off Ian Westlake and from the free-kick Gabor Kiraly had to stand firm to punch clear from Jason De Vos.

Price threw himself to his left to save from Jobi McAnuff before Palace had the ball in the net again, Johnson's header ruled out for offside though.

Darren Ward headed wide at the far post as Palace continued to look the more likely to add to the scoreline, Johnson seeing a shot blocked by De Vos.

Forster lifted the home crowd with a blistering shot from 30 yards that beat Kiraly but went inches over while at the other end Price, who had trouble with his kicking all through the first-half,  was fortunate to see a clearance cannon off McAnuff to safety.

Kiraly saved well from Currie as Town began to force Iain Dowie's side back, Ward clearing from inside his own six yard box after a surging run by Ian Westlake.

Forster fired across goal, Gavin Williams just failing to divert the ball in, Currie was crowded out by Popovic 10 yards out while the half finished with Price saving well from a Johnson breakaway.

Blues started the second-half much the brighter side, Westlake and Sito linking up well with Ward in the right place to bundle the ball away from danger, then Jimmy Juan tried to feed in Forster when a shot looked the better option.

On the hour mark referee Andy Woolmer turned down penalty claims after Popovic appeared to handle and seconds later Palace extended their lead, Hughes firing in superbly from 25 yards with his left foot.

Danny Haynes replaced Fabian Wilnis and was immediately in the action, crossing from the right with Popovic making the clearing header as Forster challenged.

Johnson became the fifth Palace player to be booked after kicking the ball away following a challenge on Richard Naylor, the free-kick claimed by Kiraly.

The Eagles were reduced to 10 men on 76 minutes when Macken was shown a red card after a clash with Naylor, who then picked up a booking along with Watson after some verbal sparring.

Juan blasted high and wide as Town looked for a grandstand finish and Palace were reduced to nine men when Watson was shown a second yellow for a foul on Dean McDonald, taking the tally to eight bookings and two reds in a game that was never malicious.