Crystal Palace saw their nine game unbeaten run in the Championship come to an abrupt end away to Leeds United - the league's bottom side - last Saturday.

Eagles boss Peter Taylor made three changes to the starting line-up who had beaten Ipswich at home the week before, choosing to rest Dougie Freedman and Shefki Kuqi in favour of Clinton Morrison and James Scowcroft. With Tom Soares suspended following a straight red in that game, Matt Lawrence partnered Carl Fletcher in midfield.

The Eagles started encouragingly enough at a wet and windy Elland Road against a Leeds side desperate to take something from the game.

After 14 minutes Morrison played in Mark Kennedy down the left, only for the Irishman's low cross to be a touch too hard for Matt Lawrence at the far post.

Moments later Leeds' debutant goalkeeper Casper Ankergren raced off his line to block at the feet of Fletcher as the Palace captain found himself in on goal.

After 23 minutes Danny Butterfield's cross from the right picked out Fletcher on the edge of the area but he drilled his volley into the ground, allowing Ankergren an easy save.

That was as good as it got for Palace, as just four minutes later Leeds were in front with their first effort on target.

Robbie Blake flung over a weak inswinging corner that evaded the watching Matt Lawrence and bounced up inside the six-yard area to be nodded home at the far post by a grateful Matt Heath.

The Yorkshire strugglers grew in confidence while the Eagles visibly crumbled following this setback.

The home side should have doubled their advantage just before the break following another Blake corner but Gabor Kiraly produced an excellent reflex save to tip over Ian Moore's near-post flick.

After the restart Palace tried to find a way back into the game but United took greater control of the game as they sensed a precious three points there for the taking.

After 72 minutes Dennis Wise's men effectively tied up the game when Richard Cresswell released Blake on the half-way line.

The former Birmingham man ran the rest of the length of the pitch, took advantage of a lucky deflection off Gary Borrowdale, before cutting inside and slotting past Kiraly from just inside the box.

Palace gave Leeds an uncomfortable last period when Leon Cort leapt highest to head home Kennedy's free-kick in the 83rd minute but it proved no more than a consolation for Taylor's men, who will be disappointed with their abject performance.