Ipswich slipped up in their push for the Premiership as they dropped three precious promotion points against crisis club Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

George Burley's Ipswich side have stormed up the table with six wins from their previous seven but they found Palace in fighting mood in an exciting match.

Ipswich opened the scoring with a bizarre goal on nine minutes.

The Selhurst Park pitch has come into fierce criticism and its uneven bounce certainly caught out Kevin Miller in the Palace goal.

The Eagles keeper left his goal to collect a long free-kick from Ipswich defender Tony Mowbray but was misled by the bounce and the ball zipped over his head for David Johnson to follow through to head over the line from five yards.

It was probably the easiest goal he is likely to score.

Jim Magilton struck a 20-yard shot straight at Miller and shortly afterwards volleyed over the bar as Ipswich enjoyed the better of the play.

But the Blues were stunned by the Eagles just before the break.

Jamie Smith's cross from the right found Hayden Mullins, who headed perfectly from eight yards out wide of Richard Wright in the Ipswich goal.

And then straight after the break Palace were ahead.

Lee Bradbury, whose £1million transfer to Birmingham broke down last week, muscled his way down the left side before crossing low into the goalmouth to Fanzhiyi.

The Chinese international shot straight at Wright from just 10 yards out but the Ipswich keeper could only parry the ball and with the ball hanging in the air under the crossbar Clinton Morrison duly headed over the line.

Mullins missed an absolute sitter from 10 yards out before Ipswich showed their fighting qualities.

On 62 minutes David Johnson, with space on the right, swung over a cross to the far post for Jamie Clapham to head firmly past Miller.

The game was end to end and substitute James Scowcroft missed a good chance while Bradbury wasted a useful opportunity for the Eagles.

Then on 71 minutes this enthralling match saw Palace ahead again.

The ball was in and out of the Ipswich penalty area before Bradbury used all his strength to knock down a header from Morrison to squeeze a low shot past Wright for his seventh of the season.

It proved three points for Palace, now in the hands of the administrators, which should keep them safe at least on the pitch.

Teams

Crystal Palace: Miller, Petric, Moore, Linighan, Smith, Zhiyi (Tuttle 68), Thomson, Mullins, Jihai, Bradbury, Morrison (McKenzie 88).

Subs Not Used: Evans.

Booked: Linighan.

Goals: Mullins 45, Morrison 46, 70.

Ipswich: Wright, Clapham, Mowbray, Venus, Wilnis (Scowcroft 56), Stockwell, Holland, Magilton, Thetis, Johnson, Naylor (Petta 85).

Subs Not Used: Tanner.

Booked: Venus, Wilnis, Thetis.

Goals: Johnson 10, Clapham 62.

Att: 16,360.

Ref: C Foy (St Helens).