Dowie gifted first Palace win by generous Ipswich

The fact that Ipswich managed an excellent opening goal yesterday was almost an accident. It was not in the script. But it flicked the switch in the match, changing the mood in a way that should have enabled them to take all three points. Instead they fecklessly frittered away a succession of chances before spectacularly falling apart in the second half to gift Iain Dowie his first win as the Crystal Palace manager.

The outstanding Andrew Johnson scored twice for Palace, who streamed forward at the start, frolicking in the wide open spaces a lax Ipswich afforded them. But then, like a thief in the night, came the Ipswich goal. Jermaine Wright crept in undetected at the far post from a corner to volley splendidly home.

This changed the impetus and Palace's space and possession quota shrank as Ipswich showed glimpses of their potential. Ian Westlake began tormenting defenders on the left flank; and his team flashed glimpses of some pretty one-touch passing. But it was all promise and no delivery.

They should have had a second goal when Shefki Kuqi was through one-on-one. But he panicked, his left foot turning to jelly, and he shot woefully wide. Meanwhile Palace, perhaps remembering their lowly position, had gone into their shell. They should have been pushed deeper into it early in the second half when the goalkeeper, Thomas Myhre, threw the ball straight to Ipswich, but the upshot was a Westlake effort blazing wide.

Now the game meandered into mediocrity. A one-goal advantagedoubtless suited Ipswich but the crowd grew restless. The game needed a flashpoint. A couple of bookings for either side provided a brief rise in temperature when Kuqi lambasted the linesman for a series of off-side decisions.

But the new mood seemed to suit Palace, who stunned the home side on the hour when a cross from Julian Gray was swept in on the turn by Johnson.

Nevertheless, Ipswich might have gone ahead again immediately but Westlake shot dismally wide. Four minutes later and with the home defence scattered, Johnson raced around the keeper and crossed. Richard Naylor could only scoop the ball into the path of Gray, who shunted it in with glee. With Ipswich all over the place, Johnson then set up Gray, whose shot was saved, only for Johnson to volley in the rebound from 12 yards.

It proved all very perplexing for the Ipswich manager, Joe Royle. "I can't explain why we're capable of that kind of performance,'' he said. "We have this ability to think we're comfortable in a game but it can turn into a disaster very quickly. At times we were giving them the ball and saying 'There you are, have a shot'.''

The Palace manager Dowie said: "I'm delighted to win this battle. The performance exemplified what I like. You've got to entertain. It's the entertainment industry.''

You can't argue with that.

Goals: Wright (11) 1-0; Johnson (60) 1-1; Gray (64) 1-2; Johnson (85) 1-3.

Ipswich Town (4-4-2): Davis; Wilnis, Naylor, Santos, Richards; Magilton, Wright (Bowditch, 75), Bart-Williams (Reuser, 68); Westlake; Kuqi (Bent 62), Counago. Substitutes not used: Abbey (gk), Miller.

Crystal Palace (4-4-2): Myhre; Butterfield, Symons, Popovic, Borrowdale; Routledge, Riihilahti, Hughes (Derry, 86), Gray; Shipperley, Johnson. Substitutes not used: Fleming (gk), Freedman, Black, Berthelin.

Referee: G Tomlin (Lewes).

Bookings: Ipswich: Kuqi, Richards. Palace: Gray, Hughes.

Man of the Match: Johnson.

Attendance: 27,629.