Crystal Palace kept up their play-off challenge with victory over Derby at Selhurst Park.

Republic of Ireland striker Clinton Morrison marked his return to the starting line-up with the opening goal on the half-hour mark before Darren Ward extended the lead.

Morrison, who replaced the suspended Jon Macken, netted against the run of play after a poor backpass by Rams defender Michael Johnson. Andrew Johnson chased down the ball and Derby keeper Lee Camp could only deflect the ball to Morrison who tapped the ball into the empty net.

Then 11 minutes later defender Ward volleyed home Jobi McAnuff's corner to make it two. The result sees Palace stretch their unbeaten home run to four games, while Derby's six-game unbeaten run has come to an end.

The Rams could count themselves unlucky to be two goals down at the break as they had two decent chances before Morrison's opener. County striker Tommy Smith tried his luck from 25 yards in the seventh minute but Palace keeper Gabor Kiraly was equal to the task and kept the ball out.

Smith tested Kiraly again seven minutes later but his shot from the edge of the area was parried by the Hungarian shotstopper.

But after their opener Palace began to create more and Dougie Freedman volleyed over from 18 yards in the 38th minute. Meanwhile, Johnson managed to find himself in an offside position three times in the opening period.

Soon after the break, Morrison reacted angrily to being caught offside, and was booked for dissent. And just a minute later Derby's Morten Bisgaard joined him in the book after a foul on Tony Popovic.

Derby boss Phil Brown made an attacking double substitution after 50 minutes as he looked to get his side back in the game. Young winger Lee Holmes and striker Paul Peschisolido were brought on in place of Bisgaard and Paul Thirlwell.

The sides then shared several chances, with neither team able to add to the scoring. Johnson tried his luck from 25 yards but his shot was blocked by Smith, and minutes later he had another chance which he blazed over the bar.

Spaniard Inigo Idiakez tried a speculative shot for Derby from 35 yards but it flew over. Holmes then had a decent effort, which Kiraly touched around the post and Peschisolido blasted the ball over the bar from 20 yards as the Rams looked for a lifeline.

But they could not find a goal and Johnson almost added a third for Palace late on.

Teams

Crystal Palace Kiraly, Ward, Popovic, Boyce, Fitz Hall, McAnuff, Leigertwood, Soares, Johnson, Freedman (Hughes 78), Morrison (Andrews 90).

Subs Not Used: Hudson, Borrowdale, Speroni.

Booked: Morrison, Soares.

Goals: Morrison 30, Ward 41.

Derby Camp, Davies, Michael Johnson, Jackson, Smith, Bisgaard (Holmes 53), Thirlwell (Peschisolido 53), Seth Johnson, Idiakez, Nyatanga, Graham (Bolder 75).

Subs Not Used: Edworthy, Poole.

Booked: Bisgaard, Seth Johnson.

Att: 18,978

Ref: K Stroud (Hampshire).