Three Crystal Palace goals in six first-half minutes inflicted Sheffield
Wednesday's first league defeat of the year.
Clinton Morrison gave Palace the lead just after the half hour mark with his
18th goal of the season.
The visitors instantly doubled their lead through Dougie Freedman after Ashley
Westwood's weak back-pass stuck in the mud.
Westwood was again at fault a minute later, losing possession for Jamie Smith
to score from 15 yards.
Efan Ekoku pulled one back for Wednesday just before half time, but the Owls
were left with a mountain to climb after their mad defensive spell. The result
sees Wednesday drop back into the relegation zone.
The game had started so well for the home side, with Shefki Kuqi's diving
header landing inches wide on eight minutes and Ekoku firing a low shot wide of
keeper Alex Kolinko's left hand post.
Wednesday were left to rue the missed chances when Palace went ahead in the
31st minute. Morrison raced clear after beating Wednesday's offside trap to
blast the ball past Owls keeper Paul Heald from 15 yards.
Morrison laid on Palace's second goal. He collected Westwood's poor back pass
before rounding Heald and steering his shot goalwards with Freedman on hand to
force the ball over the line.
Palace defender Westwood was having a nightmare spell, losing possession to
Freedman who set up Smith for Palace's third on 37 minutes.
Wednesday gave themselves a lifeline with two minutes of the half remaining,
Ekoku's powerful diving header from six yards leaving Kolinko with no chance.
Palace thought they had scored a fourth just minutes after the restart when
Morrison tapped home Jovan Kirovski's cross but his effort was ruled by an
offside flag.
Wednesday struggled to break down Palace's resilient defence and could only
muster a few late chances.
Skipper Trond Soltvedt headed over a Matthew Hamshaw cross while Pablo
Bonvin's long-range drive was straight at Kolinko.
Teams:
Sheff Wed: Heald, Broomes, Haslam, Westwood (Geary 45), Bromby,
Kuqi, McLaren, Soltvedt, Quinn (Hamshaw 59), Ekoku,
Sibon (Bonvin 71).
Subs Not Used: Roberts, Maddix.
Booked: Quinn, Broomes.
Goals: Ekoku 43.
Crystal Palace: Kolinko, Smith (Kirovski 45), Austin, Murphy,
Fleming, Granville, Rodger, Riihilahti, Gray (Berhalter 45),
Freedman, Morrison.
Subs Not Used: Clarke, Black, Kabba.
Goals: Morrison 31, Freedman 35, Smith 37.
Att: 20,099
Ref: P Danson (Leicester).
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