Clint Hill maintained Crystal Palace's revival while leaving Preston rooted in the Coca-Cola Championship relegation zone.

Youl Mawene headed the visitors into a surprise lead after 36 minutes but two goals in five first-half minutes from Clinton Morrison and Hill secured a second straight win for Neil Warnock's side.

Warnock only oversaw his first victory at the seventh attempt at Colchester on Saturday, but a cohesive Palace outfit are now nicely away from trouble and look like reaping the rewards of opting to switch managers so early in the season.

Preston boss Alan Irvine, who only replaced Paul Simpson last week, took sole charge at Selhurst Park and made three changes with Patrick Agyemang, Darren Carter and Simon Whaley restored to the side.

But the ex-Everton assistant will need some points on the board quickly or his new side, already joint-bottom of the table, risk being cast adrift by Christmas.

Palace were the brighter side in a distinctly forgettable first half-hour.

Morrison, fresh from his two-goal blast at Layer Road, fashioned their first chance in the seventh minute, James Scowcroft heading his cross into the path of Dougie Freedman, who volleyed wide from around the penalty spot.

With little football on show, Mawene was shown a yellow card for a clumsy foul on Tom Soares, Matt Lawrence followed him into the referee's notebook for a trip on Whaley and Agyemang needed some running repairs - and a new strip - after suffering a gashed head.

Preston finally woke up in the 34th minute when Kevin Nicholls forced Julian Speroni to tip a curling effort over the crossbar, the first save either goalkeeper had to make.

And they took a shock lead two minutes later when Mawene rose highest at the far post to head Carter's corner past Speroni.

However, their advantage lasted only six minutes when Speroni's long free-kick was flicked on by Scowcroft and Morrison instinctively stuck out a boot to guide the ball in off the crossbar.

Preston goalkeeper Andy Lonergan made a fine save from Jose Fonte, but he was beaten again in first-half stoppage time when he blocked Morrison's shot only for Hill to head the ball back over him and into an unguarded net for his first Palace goal.

Palace came out like a train after the break with Freedman heading wide and Preston defender Sean St Ledger clearing Ben Watson's cross from under his own bar.

Lonergan did well to tip away a rasping Watson volley to keep Preston in the game but a late rally failed to materialise to leave Irvine plenty to ponder.

Teams:

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Lawrence, Hudson, Fonte, Hill, Soares (Butterfield 90), Derry, Watson, Scowcroft, Morrison (Dickov 84), Freedman (Martin 67).

Subs Not Used: Kennedy, Scannell.

Booked: Lawrence.

Goals: Morrison 40, Hill 45.

Preston: Lonergan, Halls (Chilvers 90), Mawene, St. Ledger, Davidson, Sedgwick, Whaley, McKenna, Nicholls (Carroll 62), Carter (Gallagher 62), Agyemang.

Subs Not Used: Chris Neal, Hill.

Booked: Mawene, St. Ledger, Halls.

Goals: Mawene 36.

Att: 13,048

Ref: Phil Joslin (Nottinghamshire).