Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock bemoaned the lack of creativity in his midfield after seeing derby rivals Charlton condemn his side to a second defeat in three games.

Luke Varney scored a second-half double to earn The Addicks a 2-0 win, but it was the first half that worried Warnock, particularly the poor display of the midfield.

He said: "We have to function in every department to be a success and tonight I was disappointed in all the midfield players, especially the first-half. We relied on the back lads defending and scraps up front.

"We were a lot better in the second half but we have got to do more to create more chances and work harder."

A minute after Varney opened the scoring on the hour, referee Lee Probert waved away Palace penalty appeals after Madjid Bougherra appealed to handle in the box, and Warnock was disappointed not to get the decision.

He said: "I think even the referee will be surprised when he sees it. He said it was unintentional handball but you only have to look at the reaction of all the players.

"I would have liked to have seen a few nerves amongst the Charlton players if we had got a goal back at that stage."

Charlton could have run away easy winners if they had taken their chances and not found Eagles keeper Julian Speroni in inspired form.

The Argentinean's save from Zheng Zhi in the 20th minute was world class, before Varney rattled the post and missed a free header six yards out.

Warnock replaced the ineffective Paul Ifill with Sean Scannell at half time and Palace started the second half the brighter before Varney struck.

The striker latched on to an Andy Gray header from a free kick and beat Mark Hudson before firing home from six yards.

The derby atmosphere was epitomised when Varney and Hudson clashed when they dived in to a challenge, but Probert adjudged both to have got the ball.

Varney then sealed the win in the 87th minute as he turned inside John Halls and shot home from the edge of the box via a deflection off Hudson.