Crystal Palace 2-0 Bristol City
Adam Baker reports from Selhurst Park

Goals from Clinton Morrison and Mark Hudson gave Crystal Palace an impressive 2-0 win over City at Selhurst Park.

The goals came five minutes in and five minutes the end of a hotly-contested Championship encounter, in which City had their chances.

But Morrison's lucky opener and Hudson's late header proved decisive in front of more than 19,000 fans in the capital.

It was a nightmare start for City as a high ball pumped into the box was nodded on by James Scowcroft into the danger area. Jamie McAllister's attempted clearance deflected off the leg of Morrison and into the net.

Lifted by the early goal, Ben Watson and then Scowcroft fired efforts wide of the mark. On 14 minutes a long throw into the box was stabbed goalwards by Scowcroft again and Adriano Basso made a fine stop.

In response Bradley Orr fired high and wide after good build up play from Enoch Showunmi and Nick Carle.

Then on 27 minutes debutant Carle curled a shot from the edge of the box straight into the arms of the waiting Palace keeper Julian Speroni.

There was a real scare eleven minutes before the interval when Basso misjudged a cross from Morrison, but the Brazilian was breathing a sigh of relief when Tom Soares stabbed the ball the wrong side of the post with the goal gaping.

Just before half-time Carle was again given space on the edge of the box to shoot, and Speroni could only push the ball clear. The rebound looked set to be tucked away by Orr, only for Watson to make a goal-saving slide tackle at the last second.

Speroni was at full stretch again moments after the restart when Carle headed goalwards from Orr's controlled cross. The Australian's guided effort almost beat the Palace keeper, who made a terrific fingertip save in the end.

The chances kept coming for City, with McIndoe breaking clear of the back four on 56 minutes. However, the ball wouldn't sit kindly for the Scotsman and he volleyed over.

At the other end Basso did well to cling on to a low drive from defender Clint Hill and Morrison sliced an acute angled drive into the side-netting.

With an hour gone, City reverted to a 4-4-2 formation. Darren Byfield was introduced in place of Carle to link up in attack with Showunmi.

Sproule went close to converting a raking McAllister free kick and Lee Johnson curled a 25-yard free kick over the top as City pressed.

Then with just five minutes to go, Hudson sealed victory. Watson's raking free kick was missed by Basso, who was looking to punch, and Hudson nodded into an empty goal.