Crystal Palace clocked up their sixth consecutive victory to exacerbate Hull's fears of relegation from the Coca-Cola Championship.

Darren Ward opened the scoring from four yards in the early exchanges before Hull centre-back Leon Cort deflected Wayne Andrews' superb cross past his own goalkeeper six minutes before the half-hour mark.

Debutant Jon Parkin halved Hull's deficit 60 seconds later with a neat finish.

But although they flickered with promise throughout the second half Peter Taylor's men failed to penetrate a well-organised Palace side, who were good value for their three points.

Iain Dowie's team were quickly into their stride and were rewarded for an enterprising start with the opening goal after eight minutes.

Ben Watson's free-kick was greeted with a glancing header from Jon Macken, which Boaz Myhill could only parry into the path of Ward.

The Palace centre-back was afforded far too much space inside the six-yard box and was left with the simple task of poking the ball into the back of an unguarded net.

Hull, who have now lost four games on the spin, should have been 2-0 down after 22 minutes when Andrew Johnson's deft flick was well blocked by the onrushing Myhill.

The City goalkeeper could do nothing about Palace's second goal though when Andrews made left-back Mark Lynch, later to be replaced by Stuart Green, look rather foolish before sending over a low cross into the danger area.

Under pressure from Johnson, Cort's attempted clearance with his right foot sailed past Myhill.

Hull were back in business 60 seconds later when Palace were guilty of complacency and allowed Parkin the chance to score on his debut.

The former Macclesfield striker, who signed an 18-month contract earlier in the week, showed good control and even better awareness to slot the ball past Gabor Kiraly from five yards.

Palace still possessed a live threat going forward but nearly conceded an equaliser when Jason Price's acrobatic half-volley fizzed inches over the bar five minutes before half-time.

The second half yielded a discernible shift in power as Hull set about Palace with renewed vigour.

Cort nearly atoned for his first-half blunder after 55 minutes when his downward header from Stuart Green's perfect free-kick spooned just wide, while Parkin's half-volley from 30 yards dipped just over the bar shortly afterwards.

Although Palace invited Hull to press forward by defending too deeply, they still underscored their ability on the counter-attack as Jobi McAnuff and Macken both drilled efforts straight at Myhill, who also clawed Johnson's ambitious left-footed hit to safety after 67 minutes.

Cort's header proved the best chance Hull had of equalising as Palace regrouped after a few early second-half jitters and played out the remainder of the contest with consummate ease.

Teams:

Hull Myhill, France, Cort, Collins, Lynch (Green 26), Price (Duffy 59), Andrews, Delaney, Barmby (Elliott 74), Fagan, Parkin.

Subs Not Used: Leite, Paynter.

Booked: Price, Barmby.

Goals: Parkin 25.

Crystal Palace Kiraly, Boyce, Ward, Hudson, Borrowdale, Andrews (Freedman 77), Watson, Hughes (Riihilahti 86), McAnuff, Johnson, Macken (Morrison 84).

Subs Not Used: Black, Speroni.

Booked: Boyce.

Goals: Ward 9, Cort 24 og.

Att: 18,886

Ref: C Webster (Tyne & Wear).