The dismal display against Hull City was Neil Warnock’s first Premier League loss since taking the reins at Crystal Palace again in August.

It had to happen eventually.

Against Newcastle and Everton, the Eagles looked close to suffering defeat before recovering gloriously, while only a tiny morsel of fabric from Julian Speroni’s glove maintained Warnock’s unbeaten run verses Burnley at home.

Evidently, it hadn’t been as plain sailing as the throwaway TV sound bites suggested. The first half wasn’t one-way-traffic but Steve Bruce’s side had all of the best chances.

Scott Dann’s injury seemed to come out of nothing and shook the defence up a bit, having been one of our most impressive and imposing performers so far.

Nevertheless, Martin Kelly seemed quite a capable replacement for the most part and Adrian Mariappa’s introduction led to some fluid combination work with Jason Puncheon before the winger began to peter out.

The first goal came on the hour mark, as Mohamed Diamé drifted into the box totally unopposed for the opening goal, which was almost embarrassing in its ease.

Mariappa didn’t notice the powerful Senegalese midfielder as he strolled into the area, and Damien Delaney reacted hopelessly late as he realised the Hull City player was waiting unmarked for a lovely curling cross.

It’s symbolic that even Joel Ward had a fairly poor game for the first time in as long as I can remember.

Ward can excuse a lot of his little slip-ups by the simple fact that a misfiring and erratic Yannick Bolasie trotted ahead of him, offering intermittent support.

This was only natural after my praise for Bolasie last week.

He wasn’t awful, looked threatening at times and lot of things very nearly came off… Only nothing did – including most of his wayward set pieces.

Sometimes I feel sorry for Ward (or anyone) operating behind Bolasie.

Your Local Guardian:

Sympathy for the defender: Joel Ward has the uneviable task of playing behind Yannick Bolasie

Making all of those endless, gut-busting runs down the flank to offer support, knowing full well the only way you will receive the ball is if a Bolasie trick rebounds backwards off his legs or the defender scuffs a tackle in your direction.

All over the pitch Palace seemed jaded, uninspiring and slow.

As if to hammer that point home, Hull City’s second goal involved an exhausted and lacklustre fumble by Joe Ledley to lose possession.

Nikica Jelavić’s calm finish totally ended any hope of a comeback, not that there was much hope anyway.

Bolasie’s swerving, stinging drive, Delaney’s header and a couple of chipped Puncheon crosses were about the sum of the South London fight.

The result wasn’t a huge shock, but the performance was more worrying.

Palace will have to make this half-hearted showing nothing more than a blip if they even want to get a point from Chelsea up next.