Ipswich hammered a dent in Crystal Palace's play-off hopes and boosted their own bid for a top-six finish with a surprise win at Selhurst Park.

Palace were the dominant side but somehow found themselves two goals behind in the opening 27 minutes, with Owen Garvan and David Norris on target for the visitors.

Former Ipswich striker Alan Lee pulled a goal back before half-time, but the anticipated second-half Palace revival failed to materialise and substitute Kevin Lisbie and a late Clint Hill own-goal wrapped up the victory.

Palace had lost just one of their previous nine Championship outings and attacked the visitors from the first whistle.

Lee, who swapped Suffolk for south London in August, got the first sight of goal after a strong run from Sean Scannell but Town keeper Richard Wright was alert to the danger and smothered the ball.

But Ipswich went ahead against the run of play in the 18th minute when Hill felled Pablo Counago on the edge of the penalty area.

Garvan stepped up to swing in a free-kick which eluded everyone in a crowded penalty area, bounced past the unsighted Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni and into the back of the net.

Palace tried to hit back with midfielder Nick Carle firing over and Scannell driving straight at Wright.

But they were caught on the break in the 27th minute when Norris latched onto Counago's pass and slammed the ball past Speroni.

Palace did pull one back four minutes later through Lee's header, with referee Clive Penton initially looking as though he had disallowed the goal.

But the official eventually pointed to the centre circle after consulting with his assistant.

Eagles winger Paul Ifill fired a stinging volley narrowly wide of Wright's post in first-half stoppage-time.

Palace were claiming a penalty after the break when Carle tumbled in the penalty area but Penton waved away their protests.

Neil Warnock threw on Shefki Kuqi to join Lee and form an all ex-Ipswich strikeforce, but it was a double substitution from opposite number Jim Magilton which settled the match.

Jon Stead fed fellow sub Lisbie with the Palace defence dozing, and although Speroni got a hand to the former Charlton striker's shot he could not keep the ball out.

Kuqi ran onto a long ball from John Oster but could not beat Wright, and the Finn was then frustrated by Dan Harding who cleared his header off the goal-line.

And Palace's misery was complete when Hill headed past his own goalkeeper two minutes from time.

Teams:

Crystal Palace Speroni, Clyne, Lawrence (Butterfield 46), Fonte, Hill, Derry, Carle, Oster (Djilali 82), Ifill,Scannell (Kuqi 63), Lee.

Subs Not Used: Hills, Danns.

Booked: Ifill.

Goals: Lee 31.

Ipswich Richard Wright, Bruce, McAuley, Balkestein, Harding, Haynes (Lisbie 65), Norris, Counago (Stead 65), Garvan,Walters (Quinn 90), Miller.

Subs Not Used: Supple, Shumulikoski.

Booked: Miller, McAuley.

Goals: Garvan 19, Norris 28, Lisbie 69, Hill 89 og.

Att: 15,348

Ref: Clive Penton (Sussex).