Last minute agony for Eagles

Peter Taylor's luck showed no sign of improving at Hillsborough last night after Steven MacLeans's injury time winner made it four defeats in five games for the Eagles.

After criticing keeper Gabor Kiraly and defender Darren Ward for their role in Plymouth Argyle's winner on Saturday, both players were axed from the Palace boss's starting 11, with Ward not even making the bench.

Taylor recalled Shefki Kuqi from the bench and it was the Finn who gave the Eagles a 21 minute lead when he capitalised on a defensive error from Wednesday full-back John Hills.

But the hosts ruined a good half by the Eagles when Marcus Tudgay levelled on the stroke of half-time.

Buoyed by their equaliser, Wendnesday countiued where they had left off after the break and looked the liklier scorers. But a moment of individual magic from Tom Soares put Palace back in charge.

The young midfielder jinked his way through the Wednesday defence before slotting into the bottom corner of the net.

Once again the Eagles failed to build on their lead and were punished nine minutes later when Graham Couglan planted a Kenny Lunt free-kick past Scott Flinders.

Wednesday could sense victory and threw everything at Palace. Wade Small nearly grabbed the winner when his shot flew just over, but the hosts finally got their reward when MacLean rose to head past Flinders from close range to seal the points and compile more misery on Taylor.