Leon Cort's header just after the half-hour mark and Paul Ifill's clincher just after half-time gave Crystal Palace a deserved victory over Ipswich at Selhurst Park.

Danny Butterfield set up the opener with a good cross for Cort to head into the roof of the net, and Ifill clinched the points with a right-footed drive after 51 minutes.

But the Eagles were made to hang on for the last 15 minutes after the sending-off of Tom Soares for a poor challenge on Dan Harding.

The home side were the first to threaten, and Town keeper Lewis Price was called into action as early as the fifth minute to make his first save.

Mark Kennedy floated in a free kick from the left and Cort got his head to the ball 12 yards out only for Price to make the save.

Town responded within a couple of minutes, but a Jonathan Walters volley from the edge of the penalty area was weak and flew harmlessly over the crossbar.

Ipswich fashioned a far better opening on the 15 minute mark, and it needed a fine stop from Gabor Kiraly to keep the scoreline blank.

Harding drilled in a fine left-footed effort from 18 yards that Kiraly had to act smartly to tip round the post at the expense of a corner, which was cleared by Cort.

The home side were well on top at the stage, and they eventually broke the deadlock after 31 minutes through Cort.

A Carl Fletcher shot from distance was tipped over the bar by Price but, from the restart, Butterfield crossed for Cort to head home from close range.

Shefki Kuqi sent in a weak shot moments later, before Kennedy tested Price as half-time approached.

Palace continued to press at the start of the second half, and Soares fired over the bar four minutes after the restart.

The respite was only temporary, however, as Ifill made it 2-0 seconds later with a right-foot shot from 12 yards.

Town had a mountain to climb, but they started to push forward a bit more and nearly pulled one back on the hour mark.

George O'Callaghan tried his luck with his right foot and Kiraly did really well to tip the ball round the post.

Price was then called into the action twice more in quick succession, stopping a Kennedy free kick with his hands and then saving a Kuqi shot with his feet.

Palace were well on top at this stage, but they were rocked by the 74th-minute sending off of Soares for violent conduct.

Soares had been booked six minutes earlier but was shown a straight red for a challenge on Harding.

Teams:

Crystal Palace Kiraly, Lawrence, Hudson, Cort, Butterfield,Ifill, Fletcher, Soares, Kennedy (Watson 73),Freedman (Borrowdale 82), Kuqi (Scowcroft 85).

Subs Not Used: Speroni, Morrison.

Sent Off: Soares (75).

Booked: Soares.

Goals: Cort 33, Ifill 51.

Ipswich Price, Wright, Wilnis (Bruce 46), Naylor, Harding,Roberts (O'Callaghan 60), Garvan, Legwinski,Peters (Haynes 60), Lee, Walters.

Subs Not Used: Supple, Clarke.

Booked: O'Callaghan, Lee.

Att: 17,090

Ref: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).