Clint Hill clinched the win for Palace with his first goal for the club.

The on loan Stoke man headed home on the stroke of half time as the Eagles came back from behind to give Neil Warnock his first home success in charge of the club.

Preston took the lead against the run of play through Youl Mawene on 36 minutes, but Clinton Morrison grabbed the equaliser minutes later with his fourth goal in three games, before Hill popped up with the winner.      

Warnock made only two changes from the line-up that won him his first game since taking charge, at Colchester on Saturday.

One of those was enforced, with Tom Soares coming in for the injured Paul Ifill. Warnock also plumped for Dougie Freedman in place of Mark Kennedy, who lined up as a substitute. Shaun Derry made his home debut on his return to Palace as the holding midfielder in an attacking 4-3-3 formation.

Also on the bench was young striker Sean Scannell, who was included in the senior squad for the first time in the 2-1 victory at Essex.   

On a mild, damp evening there was a scrappy opening, but Palace soon took control. On eight minutes, Morrison found space down the right and crossed for James Scowcroft, who nodded into the path of Freedman to volley wide.

Two minutes later, Freedman turned creator as Morrison deflected wide of the post with his left foot. Ben Watson then delivered a menacing free kick that caused chaos in the Preston area. A goalmouth scramble ensued and the ball fell for Mark Hudson, but he could not find the net with his header. 

It was all one-way traffic as the power of Derry, probing of Freedman and speed of Soares caused concern for the North End defence. 

A typically rampant break from the latter forced a scything foul by Mawene that was punished with a booking. Four minutes later it was Palace right back Matt Lawrence who was punished with a yellow card, after tripping Simon Whaley.

Palace's main concern was complacency, and Hill was forced to make an important intervention following good skill and cross from Patrick Agyemang, who had no number on the back of his yellow shirt.

On 34 minutes, Kevin Nicholls tried his luck for Preston from 30 yards, and Palace stopper Julian Speroni had to be alert to tip the ball over. 

The warning was not heeded, and it was Preston who took the lead two minutes later. Darren Carter's left wing corner was met at the back post by the head of a poorly-marked Mawene. Despite the best efforts of Scowcroft on the line, the ball nestled in the back of the Palace net.

But the Eagles hit back on 40 minutes when Speroni's free kick from inside his own half was headed on by Scowcroft into the path of Morrison, whose delightfully instinctive back flick found the net via the underside of the bar.

Palace almost went ahead a minute shy of half time. Watson's corner was bulleted towards the target by Fonte, and it took a goal-line clearance from a visiting defender to keep the ball out. 

The home side then took the lead in first half stoppage time. Watson caught the Lilywhites' defence napping with a quick free kick to Morrison, whose effort was snuffed out, but the ball fell nicely for Hill to loop his header into the goal. Mawene acrobatically attempted to keep the ball out but he could not deny Hill his first Palace goal.

The goals put Palace ahead at the break, and Warnock's men started the second period brightly. A lovely passing move saw Lawrence find some space down the right and his wicked cross was a finishing touch away from being a goal to remember. 

From a 57th-minute corner, Watson exchanged passes with Freedman and drove a cross that was cleared over the bar by a visiting defender. Hill almost grabbed his second goal two minutes later with a courageous header from another Watson centre.

The home side's dominance forced Preston manager Alan Irvine into making changes, and he brought on loan duo Andew Carroll and Paul Gallagher in an attempt to get back into the game.

Warnock also shifted his pack, introducing Dave Martin in place of Freedman, who was rewarded for his impressive showing witha raptorous reception from the Selhurst faithful.

On 70 minutes, Scowcroft set up Watson, who hammered a goalbound volley that was somehow tipped over by goalkeeper Andy Lonergan to deny Palace a blockbuster strike.

Watson was becoming particularly influential in the middle, and he almost made a decisive connection from Martin's left wing cross.

Once again, Warnock's main fear was that his players would become too comfortable and lose concentration. On 82 minutes, after sloppy defending, Agyemang came in at the back post and almost converted a rigth wing cross. Palace had to be careful.

Paul Dickov then came on to replace Morrison, but Preston's lingering threat remained. A good first touch by Gallagher appeared to present the visitors with a real opportunity, but Lawrence recovered in time to clear the danger.

With the fourth official signalling a minimum of four minutes stoppage time, Warnock repalced Soares with Danny Butterfield to take the sting out of the game.

In truth, the measure was not needed as the home side comfortably ran out the remainder of the game.

At the final whistle, Warnock saluted his players and gave a celebratory punch to the home faithful in what he hopes will be the first of many victories as a home manager at Selhurst PArk.  

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Lawrence, Hill, Fonte, Hudson (c), Derry, Scowcroft, Watson, Soares (Butterfield 90), Freedman (Martin 68), Morrison (Dickov 85).

Subs not used: Kennedy, Scannell.

Goals: Morrison 42, Hill 45.

Booked: Lawrence 24.

Preston North End: Lonergan, Halls (Chilvers 90), Davidson, Mawene, Sedgwick, Agyemang, Carter (Gallagher 62), St. Ledger, Whaley, McKenna (c), Nicholls (Caroll 62).

Subs not used: Hill, Neal.

Goal: Mawene 36.

Booked: Mawene 20, St Ledger 61, Halls 88. 

Referee: Mr P. Joslin. Assistant Referees: Mr M. Rowley and Mr J. Hayto. 4th Official: Mr S. Creighton.