Preston North End 4
(Etuhu 48, Alexander pen 50, Lewis 79, Healy 90)


Crystal Palace 1
(Derry 71)

Kit Symons suffered his first league defeat as caretaker boss of Crystal Palace as Preston put four past the hapless Eagles at Deepdale, writes Neil McSteen.

Rounding off a bad week after an own goal in the Carling Cup defeat at Aston Villa, Symons was also shown the red card in 51st minute for pulling down former Palace striker Ricardo Fuller.

Referee Eddie Ilderton had no choice but to send Symons off, as the Palace manager was the last man. Preston defender Graham Alexander smashed home the spot kick to give Preston a 2-0 lead.

Moments earlier, Palace had already gone behind to a simple strike from Dickson Etuhu.

The move started after Michael Hughes lost out to David Healy in midfield, allowing the former Manchester United forward a clear run on goal.

Healy's fierce shot produced a fine save from Thomas Myhre down to his right. Etuhu reacted first and was able to slot the loose ball home.

The quick double blow just after half time dented Palace's confidence and handed the initiative to Preston, who began to dominate.

Yet it had been a different story in the first half. Although not the most entertaining 45 minutes of football, Palace had defended well and were set for a well-earned away draw.

Symons gamble of dropping Dougie Freedman and playing Hughes just behind Neil Shipperley nearly paid off as early as the third minute. But the Ulsterman could only air-kick at Rob Edward's superb cross.

Palace did manage to give themselves a lifeline in the 71st minute when Shaun Derry's fine solo goal halved the deficit.

He ran from right to left through the statuesque Preston defence before emphatically finishing with a left-footed drive past Jonathan Gould.

Minutes later Derry was at the centre of the action again, clearing off the line after Ricardo Fuller's shot had beaten Myhre.

But any thoughts of a comeback were scuppered in the 79th minute when Preston grabbed their third through Eddie Lewis to finally kill-off 10-man Palace.

Preston snatched a fourth and final goal in second-half injury time. Marlon Broomes fed Richard Cresswell, who beat a tired Danny Butterfield to cut back across the six-yard box to an unmarked David Healy. Healy tapped in at the far post to complete a miserable afternoon for the Eagles.

After the game Kit Symons described the defeat as a "bad day at the office", adding: "It is how we respond to this defeat that matters."

Man of The Match: Thomas Myhre. Preston had 27 shots on target, but only scored four. Forget Reo-Coker, buy this man now!

Palace: Myhre, Edwards, Symons, Popovic, Butterfield, Riihilahti, Hughes, Derry, Borrowdale, Shipperley,(capt) Black (Routledge 80). Not Used: Berthelin, Watson, Freedman, Fleming.