Town picked up their second away win of the season as Roy Keane’s men beat George Burley’s Crystal Palace 2-1 in an ill-tempered clash at Selhurst Park, both teams ending the match with 10 men. Grant Leadbitter netted a penalty just after the break, Claude Davis having been sent off for a foul on Jon Stead, then Carlos Edwards added the second, prior to Andros Townsend making an early exit and Neil Danns pulling a late goal back for the home side.

Boss Roy Keane sprung a surprise by including Grant Leadbitter in his starting line-up despite ruling the midfielder out yesterday due to the ankle injury he suffered a week ago. Leadbitter took his usual midfield role, while Carlos Edwards was also back after his groin problem, on the right of the three-man attack.

New loan signing Darren O’Dea was handed a debut at left-back with Shane O’connor dropping to the bench alongside Tamás Priskin.

Palace’s line-up included two of their former Blues, Alan Lee and Owen Garvan, but David Wright missed out with a calf injury and Darren Ambrose with a knee injury. Keeper Lewis Price and former Town academy schoolboy Stuart O’Keefe were on the bench. Pablo Couñago was ineligible after joining Palace on loan yesterday, while the Eagles’ new signing Edgar Davids also wasn’t included.

Garvan almost got the game off to a dramatic start with the game only seconds old. The Irishman seized upon a loose ball 25 yards out and struck a shot not too far wide of Márton Fülöp’s left post.

On seven, Stead managed the Blues’ first shot of the game, a low effort which Julian Speroni claimed to his left. Town might have gone ahead in the 11th minute when Leadbitter sent Stead away down the left. The former England U21 international sent in a low cross which Edwards just about reached but the Trinidadian could only scuff the ball into the ground and over.

Palace had started the brighter of the two sides, but Town were gradually seizing the impetus, breaking forward quickly, with Leadbitter showing little sign of the injury which saw him leave Portman Road on crutches a week ago. On 12 Norris saw a shot blocked from another Stead ball in from the left.

A clever piece of skill from Wilfried Zaha almost created an opening for Patrick McCarthy and Alan Lee but the ball flew behind both the Palace players. Eagles skipper McCarthy got his name in the book moments later for a foul on Andros Townsend.

Palace had the ball in the net in the 23rd minute but Dorman was clearly offside, then Leadbitter and Garvan clashed as the former Blue was about to take a freekick, referee Jonathan Moss eventually restoring order without the need of a card.

The Blues almost went in front in freak circumstances just after the half hour. Stead sent in a cross from the right which appeared to catch Speroni unawares but struck the bar, the loose ball falling to Townsend at too tight an angle on the left, the loanee from Spurs putting it out.

The level scoreline at the break was probably a fair reflection with both sides having periods on top in what had been a largely scrappy and not overly entertaining 45 minutes. Town probably ended the half the stronger of the two sides, while Speroni was the only of the two keepers to have been worried, albeit by Stead’s mis-hit cross which struck the bar.

At half-time Pablo Couñago and Edgar Davids were introduced to their new fans, the Spaniard waving to his old supporters, who applauded him warmly.

Four minutes into the second half, the Blues went in front from the penalty spot. Jon Stead ran on to the ball on the edge of the area, beating the Palace offside trap and when through on goal was pulled back by Claude Davis just inside the box.

Referee Moss had no hesitation in pointing to spot and showing Davis a red card. It was difficult to see quite what the protesting Palace players were complaining about as it was both an obvious penalty and goalscoring opportunity.

Grant Leadbitter sent the spotkick low to Speroni’s right and into the net. While the Town players celebrated, a plastic bottle was thrown onto the pitch from the stand behind the goal and McCarthy clashed with a clearly angry O’Dea.

The match had become increasingly spiky and on 53 Norris got his name in the book for a foul on Garvan, the former Town man again reacting angrily. While play carried on, Danns was similarly incensed by an O’Dea tackle.

Town made it two in the 55th minute when Leadbitter was sent away on the left and sent in an inch perfect ball to the far post where Edwards sent it into the roof of the net.

Gareth McAuley headed wide on 65, before a further bout of handbags with Hyam clashing with Lee and Garvan again involving himself in the middle of the fracas. Hyam received the only yellow card.

Andy Dorman shot over for Palace in the 71st minute but Town keeper Márton Fülöp was still to be seriously tested.

The Blues were also reduced to 10 men a minute later. Andros Townsend went for a high ball with a raised boot between Palace skipper McCarthy and Speroni and caught the keeper in the face as the Argentinian claimed. The on-loan Spurs man protested that there had been no malice in his challenge but referee Moss showed his red card for the second time in the match. The midfielder signalled the scoreline to the home fans as he walked off the field.

Despite losing Townsend, who was playing only his second game for the club, the Blues were rarely severely threatened, Zaha sending in a cross from a dangerous position on the right five minutes from time but behind his team-mates in the penalty area.

Three minutes from the end the again excellent Jon Stead was replaced by Tamás Priskin, who was quickly dumped over the advertising hoardings by Palace sub Adam Barrett. In injury time, Shane O’Connor took over from Luke Hyam.

Palace pulled a goal back two minutes into injury time when Nathaniel Clyne crossed from the right and Neil Danns looped a header under the bar with Fülöp having come for the ball. Moments later, Eastman replaced Peters for the final few moments.

A second win in three league games for the Blues, who never looked like being beaten against a Palace side which rarely threatened Márton Fülöp’s goal until netting in injury time.

Town’s victory was built on a resolute defensive display - with McAuley and Smith again solid and Darren O’Dea putting in a fine debut at left-back - and quick breaks from the likes of Edwards, Peters and Townsend. Stead again impressed as the lone central striker.

There seemed little argument about the penalty, which Leadbitter tucked away with confidence, while the second goal came with the home side still reeling from the first and the loss of Davis.

Townsend’s red card was probably more down to youthful enthusiasm than malice, but means that Roy Keane has lost another player for a few games.

The Blues’ heartening start to the season continues with a very winnable home game against Bristol City next Saturday following the midweek Carling Cup tie against Crewe.

Town: Fülöp, Peters (Eastman 90), O’Dea, McAuley, Smith, Hyam (O’Connor 90), Leadbitter, Norris, Stead (Priskin 87), Edwards, Townsend. Unused: Murphy, Brown, Healy, Hourihane. Att: 15,781 (Town: 2,020).

Photo: Action Images

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