Victor Moses' second-half dismissal did not prove a hindrance as 10-man Crystal Palace virtually assured their Championship status with a narrow win over Derby.

Rob Hulse squandered the only chance of note when he failed to beat in-form goalkeeper Julian Speroni from six yards out as the two sides shared an uninspiring goalless first half at Selhurst Park.

With neither side having yet mathematically secured their Championship status for next season, the tone for a tenacious encounter was set after just 15 seconds when Australian midfielder Nick Carle was booked for a clattering challenge on Robbie Savage.

Derby playmaker Kris Commons proved a thorn in Palace's side throughout but he too found the Argentinian goalkeeper in sensational form.

But the game sprung into life in the 60th minute when promising 18-year-old Eagles winger Moses was controversially dismissed for a second bookable offence following an apparently harmless challenge on Mile Sterjovski.

The decision simply served to fire up Neil Warnock's depleted side as well as the home crowd who had genuine reason to cheer three minutes later as Shefki Kuqi raced clear before applying an exquisite lobbed finish to earn his side the lead.

By the midway point in the opening period, Savage had just about made a full recovery and was beginning to exert a greater influence on the game although the visitors still lacked a cutting edge.

But as the half-time whistle approached, the Rams should have snatched the lead on the counter-attack as Stephen Pearson fed Hulse but the 14-goal striker could not find a way past Speroni who managed to deflect the ball wide for a corner.

Derby came racing out of the blocks after the interval and immediately looked to take advantage of their new-found confidence but Speroni was not fooled by dangerman Commons' deft chip as the Palace keeper again saved his side.

The Argentinian goalkeeper again proved to be Commons' nemesis 10 minutes into the second half as the Derby midfielder's ferocious 25-yard drive was brilliantly tipped round the post at full stretch by Speroni.

Moments later, the Rams came even closer when Hulse rose above the static Palace defence but his header left the crossbar rattling as the ball came back off the woodwork and away to safety.

And just as the home side appeared at their most vulnerable, their cause was made even harder when young winger Moses was dismissed for a second bookable offence following a seemingly innocuous challenge on Sterjovski.

The referee's decision incensed the crowd and roused the home side and out of the obscurity, they found themselves ahead three minutes later.

The goal came against the run of play when Clint Hill's header forward from the centre of the park caught the visiting defenders unawares and the ball broke to Finland striker Kuqi who kept his composure to chip home from 12 yards.

Derby once again resumed their dominance in possession but lacked any inspiration as they piled forward without any attacking impetus.

Substitute striker Emanuel Villa thought he had equalised late in the game when he headed home Lewin Nyatanga's whipped cross but the goal was chalked off for offside as the visitors left London empty handed.

Teams:

Crystal Palace Speroni, Clyne, Lawrence, McCarthy, Hill, Moses, Carle, Ertl, Rui Fonte (Comley 66), Kuqi, Stokes.

Subs Not Used: Jose Fonte, Scowcroft, Hills, Cadogan.

Sent Off: Moses (60).

Booked: Carle, Moses, Lawrence.

Goals: Kuqi 63.

Derby Bywater, Connolly, Todd, Albrechtsen, Nyatanga, Sterjovski (Villa 76), Savage, Pearson (Eustace 72), Teale, Commons (Bannan 85), Hulse.

Subs Not Used: Price, Beardsley.

Booked: Sterjovski.

Att: 14,736

Ref: Keith Woolmer (Northamptonshire).