Palace sink Shrimpers

Paul Ifill's decisive second half strike got Crystal Palace back to winning ways at Roots Hall last night.

After two successive defeats, which derailed the Eagles' play off push, the ex-Sheffield United winger's 64th minute effort at least put a smile back on the face of boss Peter Taylor and more than 1,000 travelling Palace fans.

But there would not have been a smile in sight during a poor opening 45 minutes, where the Eagles were devoid of attacking ideas and rarely tested Shrimpers keeper Darryl Flahavan.

The hosts, desperate for points to aid in their relegation scrap, made a bright start and looked threatening down the flanks.

But, in Gabor Kiraly, Palace have a keeper who is desperate to impress potential suitors, and he claimed every cross swung into the Palace boss.

Lee Bradbury wasted a good chance in the 20th minute when he headed Lewis Hunt's cross wide before Southend had a penalty appeal turned down when Jamal Campbell-Ryce's cross appeared to strike Gary Borrowdale on the arm.

Clinton Morrison, in for the injured Shefki Kuqi, had to wait until the half hour mark before his first effort of the game, which was comfortably gathered by Flahavan.

Taylor introduced Dougie Freedman at the break to play on the left flank and it took this reshuffle to bring Palace to life.

The Scotsman nearly played Morrison in on goal with a neat throughball straight after the restart, but it was not long until he was in the thick of the action again, creating the Palace goal.

James Scowcroft crossed to the far post and Freedman's shot was blocked by Flahavan, only to fall to Ifill who slotted under the keeper to put Palace in front.

Mark Kennedy was inches away from doubling the Eagles' lead a minute later when his left-footed effort flew wide of the post after latching on to Scowcroft's pass.

After surviving a brief fightback by the home side, Palace were in control and Taylor even introduced youngster Lewis Grabban in place of Morrison for the final 10 minutes.

Grabban nearly made an instant impact when he could not quite reach Ifill's cross six yards out before having an effort blocked by Flahavan after being put through by Freedman.

There was still enough time for Taylor to give new signing Dave Martin a debut in the final few minutes, as the Eagles cruised home and ever so slightly lift the gloom around Selhurst Park.

Palace: Kiraly 7, Butterfield 5 (Freedman 45 8), Borrowdale 6, Cort 7, Hudson 7, Ifill 7(Martin 90), Fletcher 7, Lawrence 6, Kennedy 7, Scowcroft 7, Morrison 7 (Grabban 82 7).

Palace star man: Gabor Kiraly. Took the pressure off the Palace defence in the opening third of the match by claiming every cross in sight and kept Southend at bay. Proves, when his head is in the right place, he is a very good keeper.