Danny Haynes' fortuitous goal on the stroke of half-time secured three valuable points for Ipswich against Coca-Cola Championship play-off rivals Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

The south London-born forward did not know too much about his fifth goal of the season, deflecting in Richard Naylor's volley with his head, but the blow did not stop him wheeling away in celebration.

Haynes was not even in Jim Magilton's original starting line-up, but was drafted in when Alan Quinn pulled out of the warm-up.

The 20-year-old may wake up with a headache in the morning but he will not be complaining after cementing Ipswich's place in the top six with their second away win of the season.

Things could have been worse for Palace, who are now without a win in four, had referee Clive Penton shown what appeared a clear red card to goalkeeper Julian Speroni.

Neil Warnock's policy of not naming a keeper on the bench would have backfired but for Penton brandishing only yellow after Speroni brought down Jon Walters.

Clinton Morrison will rue two missed chances to level in the space of one second-half minute as the hosts' own play-off hopes took another dent.

They suffered a scare in the opening moments when Danny Butterfield underhit a backpass, forcing Speroni to hare out of his area and clear at the feet of the onrushing Haynes.

Town striker Alan Lee was then given too much space on the edge of the box but his curling shot was comfortably saved by Speroni, before Walters and Macedonian midfielder Velice Sumulikoski - making his full debut - put headers wide.

Palace, for all their possession, created little until the 28th minute when young full-back Lee Hills overlapped and crossed towards Morrison, whose effort was blocked.

Teenager Sean Scannell prodded the rebound goalwards but the ball was deflected behind.

Ben Watson then squandered a decent opportunity, latching onto Scannell's clever backheel only to sidefoot the ball straight at Stephen Bywater.

Seven minutes before the break, Palace skipper Mark Hudson broke forward, with Ipswich baying for offside, and beat Bywater with an angled shot which was spinning towards goal until Naylor hooked the ball clear from under the crossbar.

And in first-half stoppage time, Lee's low cross found its way to Naylor, whose shot took a wicked deflection off Haynes and looped over Speroni.

Palace had their huge let-off seven minutes after the break when Walters burst through clear on goal and was taken out by Speroni just outside the box, an offence which referee Penton somehow deemed worthy of just a yellow.

Warnock threw on former Ipswich striker Shefki Kuqi, and the burly Finn immediately blasted a left-footed shot wide.

Morrison blew a fine chance to level 10 minutes from time when he slipped as he attempted to hook Butterfield's cross goalwards.

And, seconds later, Hudson's pass from the wing left Morrison unmarked in front of goal, but the striker swivelled and fired the ball wastefully wide.

Teams:

Crystal Palace Speroni, Butterfield, Lawrence, Hudson, Hills,Danns, Watson (Fletcher 46), Derry (Freedman 67), Scannell,Scowcroft (Kuqi 56), Morrison.

Subs Not Used: Ifill, Fonte.

Booked: Speroni, Danns.

Ipswich Bywater, Bruce (Wright 86), De Vos, Naylor, Harding,Norris, Miller, Sumulikoski, Haynes, Lee (Counago 82), Walters.

Subs Not Used: Colgan, Garvan, Trotter.

Booked: Haynes, Bywater.

Goals: Haynes 45.

Att: 16,090

Ref: Clive Penton (Sussex).