A freak goal by Danny Haynes on the stroke of half time dented Palace's promotion chances.

Richard Naylor's powerful, but wayward, volley smacked the 20-year-old on the head yet the ball amazingly bounced into the corner of the net.

To increase the sense of injustice, Haynes, who knew nothing about the goal, was a named subsitute and only started the game because of an injury in the warm-up for Alan Quinn.

The defeat was tough on Palace, who had recovered from a slow start to have the best of the play as the first half drew to a close, yet arguably provided fitting punishment for their failure to create enough in a lacklustre performance.

The fog that had forced matches elsewhere to be postponed did not stop Palace's game from taking place, and a lack of experience did not stop left back Lee Hills and winger Sean Scannell from being recalled to the starting line-up.

That meant a return to his favoured right back role for Danny Butterfield, who filled in as a left back at Charlton on Friday night, and a place on the bench for Paul Ifill, who made his comeback from injury at The Valley.

Unfortunately for Palace, a dull start was livened up by the visitors on the 19th minute. Alan Lee's back post header was well saved by Julian Speroni and then, from the resulting corner, Hills' cleared a goalbound header off the line.

Nine minutes later, Hills went up the other end and created a decent goalscoring opportunity. The teenager took on David Norris and delivered a dangerous low ball into the penalty area that was deflected into the path of Scannell, whose shot was then blocked out by a frantic Ipswich backline.

With Hills, who was voted man of the match, showing promise down the left, it was very much the youngsters who were catching the eye. Scannell, the other teenager on display, played his part by executing a beautiful backheel into the path of Ben Watson, whose left-footed effort failed to trouble Stephen Bywater in the Town goal.

On 38 minutes, Matt Lawrence's hopeful high ball unexpectedly put Mark Hudson clear. The centre back's first touch was delightful but he shanked the shot, enabling a defender to clear.   

Although it was a promising end to the half for the Eagles, Haynes' goal possibly encouraged Neil Warnock to make a change, and he replaced Watson with Carl Fletcher at the break.

The midfielder hurriedly entered the pitch to join in a team huddle immediately prior to the beginning of the half, as Warnock's men showed a united front.

Eight minutes into the half, Palace escaped. Jonathan Walters was put clean through and Speroni brought him down outside the area. Fortunately for the Eagles, Mr Penton opted to give the Palace goalkeeper only a booking for the misdemeanour. A red card, which he would have been justified to brandish, would have meant the adoption of a goalkeeping role for one of the outfield players.

As it was, Warnock was able to bring on Sheki Kuqi, in place of forward James Scowcroft, without having to radically change the formation to suit a ten-man team.      

Kuqi came close on 61 minutes, flashing a shot wide of the post, but Palace remained largely lethargic. It was unsurprising, then, that Warnock decided to inject some more invention into proceedings, and few are better than providing a spark than Dougie Freedman, who replaced Shaun Derry.

But things were slow to improve. Haynes had a low shot on 73 minutes that was comfortably saved by Speroni, and Selhurst Park turned deathly quiet as Ipswich remained comfortable.

Yet Warnock was holding his head in agony after a near-miss on 79 minutes. Butterfield's punt through found Morrison, but his instinctive volley went wide of the post. It was the kind of chance that the striker would have gratefully gobbled up a month ago, and summed up Palace's slump in fortunes in the past few games.   

Palace: Speroni; Butterfield, Hills, Hudson (c), Lawrence; Scannell, Derry (Freedman 57), Watson (Fletcher 46), Danns; Scowcroft (Kuqi 56), Morrison.

Subs not used: Fonte, Ifill.

Booked: Speroni (53), Danns (60).

Ipswich Town: Bywater, Lee (Counago 83), Miller, Harding, Bruce (Wright 87), Naylor, Walters, Norris, Haynes, Sumulikoski, De Vos (c).

Subs not used: Colgan, Garvan.

Goal: Haynes (45+2).

Booked: Haynes (80).

Attendance: 16,090.

Referee: Mr Clive Penton. Assistant Referees: Mr C. Francis, Mr M. Scholes. Fourth Official: Mr W. Atkin.