Town's dismal season continued as Crystal Palace left Portman Road with a 2-0 victory. Jon Macken put the visitors ahead in the first half and Michael Hughes added the second from 35 yards after the break. Late on, Macken and Ben Watson both saw red but the Blues rarely looked like scoring at any stage.

Joe Royle again opted for the controversial 4-5-1 formation he has tended to prefer against the division's more highly-rated sides with Nicky Forster the lone striker. Owen Garvan and Ian Westlake returned to the midfield after ankle and knee injuries with Jim Magilton and Matt Richards dropping to the bench. At the back, Fabian Wilnis started in his more regular right-back role with Sito on the left.

Palace started strongly with the Blues unable to get hold of the ball despite the numbers in midfield. Andrew Johnson came close to a goal in the opening minute, his flicked header from a Ben Watson freekick flashing across the face of goal and narrowly avoiding a number of Palace toes at the far post.

A second Palace freekick for a handball by Sito less than a minute later saw Watson force Price into a good save down to his left, the loose ball being knocked to safety.

Town gradually started to get more into the game but Palace were still well in control when the lead in the 15th minute. Sito appeared to be pulled back by Tom Soares on the Town left and mis-hit a clearance inside to Johnson. The England international played the ball across the box and Macken gave Lewis Price no chance.

As so often this season, the Blues looked vulnerable after conceding and Price did well to push Jobi McAnuff's 25-yard strike out for a corner. From the set piece, the ball was sent back wide to Watson, who whipped in a cross which Johnson headed into the net, but from an offside position.

Macken received a yellow card for a foul on Sito in the 25th minute, before a Town appeal for a penalty when Tony Popovic appeared to push Nicky Forster, but referee Andy Woolmer wasn't interested.

Forster hit a spectacular 25-yard effort on the turn just over the bar in the 31st minute as the Blues at last started to make some progress into the Palace half of the field. Five minutes later, Darren Currie picked up Forster's deep cross from the left and hit a shot which Palace keeper Gabor Kiraly saved.

Owen Garvan's influence and in turn Town's threat was growing, although clear-cut chances were again proving hard to come by. On 41 Mikele Leigertwood picked up a needless booking for kicking the ball away after Town had been awarded a freekick. Currie sent the kick across the box, Jimmy Juan just failed to get a touch at close range and Kiraly did well to hold on.

A superb diagonal ball from Sito in the 42nd minute found Forster on the right, the striker's cross flashing beyond Jimmy Juan at the far post. At the other end, Johnson shot over from 25 yards.

As the half drew to a close, Michael Hughes was booked for a foul on Ian Westlake on halfway. In injury time, Town lost the ball shortly after taking a freekick in the Palace half and, with both Richard Naylor and Jason De Vos in the Eagles' penalty area, Johnson broke into the Town box, Lewis Price saving well with his feet.

Town had started very poorly but after going behind had started to take control of the game, but yet again without ever looking like a goal was imminent and with a second for Palace appearing to be only a quick break away.

Darren Currie came close to a goal in the second minute of the new half, his corner appearing to catch out Kiraly and a defender clearing from the line. The Blues continued much as they had in the latter stages of the first half with promising moves all too often breaking down due to a misplaced pass at a key moment.

Town felt they should have had a penalty in the 61st minute when Gavin Williams's cross appeared to be handled by Tony Popovic but referee Woolmer indicated that he thought the ball had struck the Australian on the chest.

A minute later, Palace increased their lead. Richard Naylor headed a long ball away from the edge of the area and Michael Hughes picked it up around 40 yards out. The Northern Irish international took the ball on unchecked for a few yards and lashed a stupendous strike past Price's left hand.

With the crowd becoming increasingly annoyed at Town's lack of attacking options, Joe Royle switched Fabian Wilnis for Danny Haynes, the youngster going to wide on the right of midfield and Currie joining Forster up front as the Blues continued with three defenders.

Garvan shot wide from 25 yards, then Jimmy Juan got his name into referee Woolmer's increasingly full book for a foul on Michael Hughes. Andrew Johnson joined him shortly afterwards for a reckless challenge on Richard Naylor. Gavin Williams hit another shot from outside the box which gave Kiraly little trouble.

On 77 Jon Macken received one of the most obvious and stupid straight red cards Portman Road has ever witnessed for elbowing Owen Garvan in the face off the ball, right in front of both the referee and a linesman. While Town waited to take the resultant freekick, Richard Naylor and Ben Watson received yellow cards, presumably for something they had said.

With 12 minutes remaining, Dean McDonald replaced Williams and went to a wide left position. Shortly afterwards, Haynes made a promising run in from the right and saw his shot deflect wide. On 83 Garvan became the third Town player to receive a yellow card for a foul on McAnuff.

In the 88th minute Watson fouled McDonald and picked up his second yellow card of the game and in turn Palace's second red of the match. But the sendings off had come too late in the game to give the Blues much of an advantage with the points already secured by the visitors. At the final whistle there were boos and shouts of "what a load of rubbish" and one or two chants of "Royle out".

By no means Town's worst performance of the season, but the Blues still rarely looked like scoring with Gabor Kiraly having one of his quieter afternoons in the Palace goal.

The use of the five-man midfield at home continues to rankle with what appears to be the majority of supporters with chants of "we're supposed to be at home" clearly making comment on what is widely perceived as a negative approach to games at Portman Road.

Another disappointing home result which continues to pile the pressure on both David Sheepshanks, the target of protests earlier in the season, and Joe Royle, against whom there were the first signs of terrace dissent. With just two wins from the last 13 games, improved results during the remainder of the Christmas period look to be essential if Town are to avoid being dragged into the relegation battle at the bottom of the table.

Town: Price, Wilnis (Haynes 66), Sito, Naylor, De Vos, Juan, Williams (McDonald 78), Currie, Garvan, Westlake, Forster. Unused: Supple, Magilton, Richards. Att: 27,392.

Photo: Action Images

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