Tom Soares scores at Hillsborough. Photo: Action Images.

Palace sank to a late defeat at Hillsborough on Tuesday night, when an injury time goal from Sheffield Wednesday substitute Steve MacLean saw the Owls win by 3-2 in the Championship.

It was hard luck on the Eagles, who had taken the lead in the game twice only to see their hosts come back on two occasions before sealing a winner with only seconds left on the clock.

Boss Peter Taylor made four changes to the team which started against Plymouth Argyle at the weekend with Scott Flinders, Danny Butterfield, Ben Watson and Shefki Kuqi all in from the start, meaning no places in the line-up for Gabor Kiraly, Darren Ward, Mark Kennedy or Dougie Freedman.

Flinders had a busy start on his Palace League debut and was forced into a save within the first two minutes, when Deon Burton spun neatly in the box to fire in a low left footer but it was straight at the Eagles keeper who made an easy stop.

Burton forced Flinders into another save just two minutes after that, when he picked up a loose ball from Marcus Tudgay but again he blasted straight at the former Barnsley man.

It was Palace who took the lead after 20 minutes though, when Watson played a slide rule pass through the middle which was mis-judged by John Hills. Kuqi was onto it like a flash and gave Brad Jones no chance with a powerful low shot.

Kuqi could have had a second four minutes later when Marco Reich broke away on the left and played an inviting cross for Tom Soares. He then laid the ball back for the big striker but his left footer went just wide of the post.

At the other end, Burton should have done better when he had a free header from Kenny Lunt's free kick but could only direct it straight at Flinders.

Unfortunately, Reich's night was brought to a premature end just after the half hour mark, when he injured himself making a super tackle on Wade Small with Kennedy brought on to replace him.

With half time imminent, Wednesday drew level following a series of slips from the Eagles. It started when Flinders mis-kicked out to the left flank, where Chris Brunt returned it into the box with interest. Palace had a couple of opportunities to clear, but somehow Tudgay wriggled through two men and toe poked home from 12 yards.

They could have even edged themselves ahead before the break, when Burton crossed from the right only to see no Wednesday player in the right area to finish off.

Palace made another change at the break, with Jobi McAnuff brought on to replace Watson who had appeared to be struggling in the later stages of the first half.

The Eagles started the second half brightly too and McAnuff almost made an instant impact only for his shot from the edge of the area to be deflected over the bar by a stray Wednesday body.

Palace were up in arms after 60 minutes, when Kuqi chipped a ball over the top for Soares for him to outpace Graham Coughlan. Despite appearing to be dragged back by the Owls skipper, he carried on with his run but had lost his advantage and Coughlan recovered enough to bring the attack to an end, much to the dismay of Palace.

The Eagles restored their advantage just after the hour mark in fine style though, when Soares netted a majestic goal. Morrison picked the ball up on the right before threading a pass across the area for the homegrown midfielder. He controlled instantly before darting in and out between two defenders and into the area, before slotting the ball home past Jones with the outside of his foot.

Wednesday struck back though and came agonisingly close to finding another equaliser, when Madjid Bougherra headed Lunt's free kick at goal. Flinders got a hand to it before Butterfield completed the clearance right on the goal line.

The equaliser arrived in the 73rd minute though, when Lunt's free kick from the right found Coughlan in the area and he powered a header past Flinders to bring things level.

Wednesday sensed a winner and Flinders had to be alert himself to make saves against Yoann Folly and Brunt with the home side piling forward.

Three minutes of stoppage time were added on and Wednesday had a glorious chance to seal three points when Frank Simek pulled the ball back from the right for Brunt, but he blasted high and wide of the target.

The winner arrived moments later though, when a long throw from Simek was headed on by Bougherra for MacLean to smash home from close range and seal the three points for the Yorkshiremen.

Sheffield Wednesday: Jones, Lunt, Coughlan (Bullen, 85) Tudgay, Burton (MacLean, 77) Brunt, Hills, Small, Simek, Bougherra, Folly. Subs not used: Adamson, Whelan, Talbot.

Palace: Flinders, Lawrence, Cort, Morrison, Watson (McAnuff, 45) Borrowdale, Soares, Butterfield, Reich (Kennedy, 34) Fletcher, Kuqi (Freedman, 76) Subs not used: Kiraly, Hudson.

Bookings: Gary Borrowdale, Shefki Kuqi, Chris Brunt,