A second-half goal from Paul Ifill dealt a huge blow to Southend's Coca-Cola Championship survival hopes as Crystal Palace grabbed a 1-0 win.

Southend were looking for a win which would have taken them out of the relegation zone and they were frustrated as Palace's plan to soak up pressure and hit them on the break worked perfectly.

In truth, the Eagles were poor for large periods and Ifill's 64th-minute goal gave them a win they scarcely deserved.

Both sides started the game tentatively, with Southend's Kevin Maher having the first effort on goal, but he curled a long-range effort wide.

The Shrimpers were struggling to break through the Palace defence, but in the 19th minute Lewis Hunt broke forward from defence and played a fine cross to Lee Bradbury - but he did not get a proper contact on the header.

That chance seemed to buoy the home side and moments later Bradbury found Richie Foran in the box and he headed straight at a grateful Gabor Kiraly, when he really should have scored.

Southend continued to probe forward, but Palace seemed content to soak up the pressure and hit them on the break.

It took until the 30th minute for the Eagles to have their first attempt on goal, with Clinton Morrison firing straight at Daryl Flahavan from James Scowcroft's flick on.

Taylor brought Dougie Freedman on for defender Danny Butterfield at half-time in a bid to spark some life into his side and it appeared to have worked as they started brightly.

However the first chance of the half fell to Southend top-scorer Freddie Eastwood, who drilled straight at Kiraly from the edge of the box after being teed up by Maher from a free-kick.

The game then turned in a matter of moments just after the hour mark.

In the 62nd minute, a corner from Maher was cleared into the path of Mark Gower and his deflected shot looked to be creeping in but Gabor Kiraly made a fantastic save.

Palace then broke up the other end and James Scowcroft's deep cross from the right was met by Freedman and his blocked shot fell to Ifill, who slammed a shot across Flahavan to give the Eagles a shock lead.

The goal gave Palace a confidence in their play which had been distinctly lacking previously and Freedman could have made it 2-0 moments later, but his first-time shot flashed agonisingly wide.

Southend looked shell-shocked by the goal and continued to press forward, but the closest they came to an equaliser was a shot from Bradbury inside the area, which was blocked by Mark Hudson as Palace held on for the points.

Teams:

Southend Flahavan, Hunt, Sodje, Clarke, Wilson (Harrold 79),Campbell-Ryce (Francis 83), Maher, Gower, Foran, Bradbury,Eastwood.

Subs Not Used: Collis, Prior, Moussa.

Crystal Palace Kiraly, Lawrence, Hudson, Cort, Borrowdale,Ifill (Martin 90), Fletcher, Kennedy,Butterfield (Freedman 45), Morrison (Grabban 82), Scowcroft.

Subs Not Used: Speroni, Ward.

Goals: Ifill 65.

Att: 10,419

Ref: L Probert (Gloucestershire).