Suicidal second half defending cost Town three points at Portman Road for the second game running, Crystal Palace coming from behind to won 3-1. The Blues had gone ahead through Jermaine Wright in the first half, but the Eagles hit back with goals from Andy Johnson (2) and Julian Gray.

The Blues recalled Pablo Couñago, Georges Santos and Ian Westlake, fielding the same side which defeated Palace 4-3 at Selhurst Park earlier in the season. Tommy Miller and Darren Bent dropped to the bench while John McGreal was left out due to a cold.

Palace had a chance in only the second minute, Andy Johnson crossing for Neil Shipperley who put the ball over the bar.

Two minutes later Johnson again proved a danger when he broke away behind the Town defence with the Blues' backline appealing for offside. Fortunately for Town the former Birmingham man shot across the face of goal.

The first serious Town attack came in the fifth minute, Couñago crossing for Westlake, a defender just getting in ahead of the youngster.

Johnson hit a 25-yard shot straight at Kelvin Davis before Westlake tried to find Couñago with a cross, a Palace defender taking the ball off his head and Shefki Kuqi hammering the loose ball over the bar.

On 10 Town went ahead. Jim Magilton swung over a deep corner and the unmarked Jermaine Wright volleyed low into the net at the far post for his third goal of the season.

From here Town took control and Shefki Kuqi came close to a second. Pablo Couñago took the ball forward, holding off a number of defenders, and played the ball in for the Finn on the right of the penalty area. Kuqi's shot was well struck but flew wide of Thomas Myhre's goal.

Westlake had had a busy half and in the 21st minute hit a low shot with his right foot, which Myhre got down to stop.

The Blues were passing the ball around well, and in the 26th minute a move involving several players ended with Jim Magilton having a shot blocked on the edge of the area from a Pablo Couñago pass.

Just on the half hour Michael Hughes shot over the bar as Palace broke quickly. At the other end Fabian Wilnis hit an unusual left foot shot over Myhre's crossbar. Shortly after Magilton also went over from the edge of the area.

The Town skipper was closer with a powerful shot across goal in the 39th minute, keeper Myhre saving well to his right.

The Blues had dominated the half but in injury time there was a scare when Naylor failed to deal with a difficult bouncing ball close to goal on the Town right. The ever-eager Johnson managed to get in a shot but Kelvin Davis blocked at point blank range.

Despite the late chance, the Blues looked comfortable but ought really have added to their one goal lead.

A Westlake flicked header sent Kuqi away for the Blues' first attack of the new half, the Finn eventually being dispossessed by Gary Borrowdale as he ran into the penalty area, referee Steve Tomlin awarding Palace a needless freekick.

Jermaine Wright clearly thought it was his day after scoring in the first half and had another go on 53. Jim Magilton had sent a lovely pass down the left for Couñago to chase, the Spaniard teeing the ball up for Wright, whose effort from 20 yards was again well saved by Myhre.

A minute later referee Tomlin showed his first yellow card of the afternoon to Hughes for a foul on Chris Bart-Williams. The caution was greeted with cheers from Town fans unhappy that a number of earlier challenges from Palace players hadn't elicited cards.

Pablo Couñago came near to adding to his Christmas goals tally in the 55th minute, his one-two with Westlake resulting in a shot which Myhre failed to hold on to. Fortunately for Palace the loose ball fell to their defenders rather than Westlake.

Matt Richards did well to get in ahead of Neil Shipperley in the 57th minute as a dangerous ball flew across the Town box.

That should have served as a warning to Town as two minutes later the visitors were back on terms. Julian Gray crossed low from the left to Andy Johnson who was given time to turn and shoot low past Davis.

It was a big blow for Town and one from which they failed to recover. Soon after the goal Joe Royle decided a change was required, Darren Bent replacing Shefki Kuqi.

Unusually, the Finn was booked after he had left the field for remonstrating with a linesman as he went off. The former Sheffield Wednesday man was unhappy with a number of second half offside calls from the official and made his feelings known.

In the 62nd minute a defensive mix-up allowed a loose ball to fall for Ian Westlake, but his shot flashed across Myhre's goal.

The failure to take that and the numerous earlier chances was to prove costly a minute later when comedy defending gifted Palace the lead. Matt Richards sold Kelvin Davis short with a back header which Andy Johnson seized upon.

The diminutive striker took the ball past the on-rushing Davis and sent a low cross into the six-yard box. Richard Naylor reached the ball first but failed to connect properly and tripped himself up in doing so, allowing Julian Gray the simplest of opportunities to slot home from a yard or so out.

While Palace had looked occasionally threatening on the break, there had seemed little possibility that they would fight back to gain a lead until Town's defensive self-destruction.

With 23 minutes remaining Martijn Reuser was introduced for Chris Bart-Williams, the Dutchman going to the left of midfield and Ian Westlake switching to the centre.

Kelvin Davis made a decent save from a Kit Symons header in the 69th minute as the Blues were put under a bit of pressure by the visitors.

A minute later Richard Naylor played through Darren Bent on the right. The striker rode a poor tackle and chose to cross rather than shoot, his low ball cut out by a Palace defender.

Matt Richards picked up a yellow card for a foul on Johnson shortly before Dean Bowditch replaced Jermaine Wright, who appeared to have taken a knock.

On 77 Shipperley hit 20-yard a shot straight at Kelvin Davis and soon after Julian Gray got himself in the book when he kicked the ball away after a freekick had been awarded on the edge of the box for a foul on Couñago. Martijn Reuser's freekick was blocked by Myhre.

However, more bad defending gave Palace a third goal. Fabian Wilnis was caught in possession around halfway, the ball finding its way to Julian Gray. The midfielder was clear with only Davis in his way, the Town stopper doing well to block, only for Johnson to follow up for his second of the afternoon.

Portman Road began to empty with booing on the final whistle after a thoroughly dispiriting last half an hour.

Town failed to take their chances while on top and then completely collapsed at the back, Palace having rarely showing a serious threat in the first hour of the game. Once the second goal had gone in the Blues rarely looked like getting anything out of the game.

A second home defeat of the Christmas period was the last thing required and has distinctly tempered the optimism in the wake of the win at West Ham.

Town's defending continues to be a big worry, although the failure to take chances earlier in the game must also be a cause for concern.

Town: Davis, Wilnis, Richards, Santos, Naylor, Bart-Williams (Reuser 67), Magilton, Wright (Bowditch 74), Westlake, Kuqi (Bent 61), Couñago.

Photo: Action Images

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