Ben Watson kept Crystal Palace's Championship play-off hopes alive while shoving lowly Colchester a step closer to League One.

The talented midfielder, a reported transfer target for a number of Premier League clubs, struck in the 75th minute to inflict a fourth straight defeat on the rock-bottom Us.

Kevin Lisbie had earlier dragged Colchester level after Phil Ifil's second own goal in a week put Palace ahead.

Defeat leaves the Essex club staring at relegation after two seasons in the second tier of English football, while Palace could yet complete a remarkable turnaround under Neil Warnock with promotion back to the top flight.

Key to their second win in nine games were teenagers Victor Moses, Lee Hills and substitute Ashley Robinson, who at times ran a creaking Colchester rearguard ragged.

Palace should have taken the lead in only the second minute when 17-year-old forward Moses charged down the left wing and rounded Ifil.

The dozing Colchester defence - who have now not kept a clean sheet for 34 games - allowed his low cross reach Tom Soares, but with the goal gaping the midfielder sidefooted the ball over the crossbar.

Another of Warnock's youngsters, full-back Hills, was then left unmarked inside the penalty area but scuffed his shot horribly wide.

Colchester forced Julian Speroni into an unconvincing save after 15 minutes when Dean Hammond met Johnnie Jackson's corner with a downward header, Matt Lawrence clearing the danger after the Palace keeper fumbled.

The visitors fell behind six minutes later when Danny Butterfield swung in a cross towards James Scowcroft, who sheepishly celebrated the goal with the unlucky Ifil appearing to get the final touch six yards out.

But they were level within 90 seconds when Clive Platt sent Lisbie scampering clear, the striker nipping between Lawrence and Butterfield and coolly sweeping the ball past Speroni.

Watson came agonisingly close to restoring the hosts' lead on the half-hour with a curling free-kick which struck the crossbar.

Scowcroft, looking for his 100th career goal, then nodded wide from Hills' cross before Clinton Morrison grazed a post with a glancing header from Butterfield's centre.

Platt headed a goalbound Butterfield shot clear, and Dean Gerken pulled off a superb save from Watson's free-kick as Colchester somehow survived until half-time.

After the break, despite more Palace pressure, it was Colchester who almost went ahead when Lisbie's cross was headed wide by Hammond.

Morrison had the ball in the net just before the hour-mark after Clint Hill had nodded Watson's free-kick against the inside of the post, but the striker was adjudged to have strayed offside.

But with 15 minutes remaining Colchester's resistance was broken as rookie winger Robinson, making only his second appearance, crossed from the right and Watson stole in to prod the ball past Gerken.

Lisbie thought he had salvaged a point late on when he netted from close range, but this time his celebrations were curtailed by the linesman's flag.

Teams:

Crystal Palace Speroni, Butterfield, Lawrence, Hill, Hills (Fonte 79), Moses (Scannell 84), Derry (Robinson 63), Watson, Soares, Scowcroft, Morrison.

Subs Not Used: Fletcher, Hughes.

Booked: Hill, Robinson.

Goals: Ifil 21 og, Watson 74.

Colchester Gerken, Ifil, Coyne, Virgo, White, Duguid, Izzet (Elito 77), Hammond, Jackson, Platt (Vernon 87), Lisbie.

Subs Not Used: Bankole, Watson, Balogh.

Booked: White, Izzet, Lisbie.

Goals: Lisbie 23.

Att: 13,895

Ref: Phil Joslin (Nottinghamshire).