There is never a bad time to hit form in a season but this time of the campaign is certainly a good one and these two teams came into the game on excellent runs. Palace made the journey to Humberside unbeaten in ten games whilst City have lost just two in their last ten.

Palace nearly had a dream start when a Ben Watson corner was headed goalwards by Mark Hudson but came back off the post and was cleared to safety as Hull had early sight of the visitor's intentions.

At the other end the woodwork came to Palace's favour as Dean Windass struck an excellent free kick from outside the box but it came back off the post for Watson to clear the loose ball.

The first fifteen minutes had seen a good open start to the game for both sides and on the quarter hour mark Watson found himself in space in the box but his shot went over Bo Myhill's goal.

The opening goal was soon to come on though and it went to the home side as a ball upfield the keeper fell to Fraizer Campbell from a Caleb Folan header and he slotted the ball into the corner of the net to give Phil Brown's side the advantage.

Just a minute later Dean Windass had a goal ruled out as he put in a pass from Bryan Hughes but the striker was offside.

Windass was soon to leave the action as he was injured in a challenge by Shaun Derry, which the midfielder got booked for, and was replaced by Craig Fagan.

Just before the half hour mark a good move involving Watson, Tom Soares and Victor Moses was nearly finished off by Hull's Michael Turner as the defender cleared the danger out for a corner but the home fans were fearing the worst as it went close to his own goal.

Brown had to make another change on the half hour as Henrik Pedersen had to leave the game to be replaced by Nathan Doyle.

Palace kept their heads and playing some good passing football even after going behind and got the reward with an equaliser. Scott Sinclair started and finished the move with an exchange of passes with Clinton Morrison which saw the winger slotting the ball past Myhill into the far corner to put the visitors deservedly on level terms.

The opening period sees two minutes of added time come and go as the sides go in at the break on level terms having put on a first half worthy of two in form teams in this division. 

A set piece from Watson, which has been so important this season, saw Palace's first attack of the second half as the ball played into the box was nearly found by Mark Hudson. The defender was just inches away from connecting with the ball right in front of Myhill's goal.

The second half started in the same style with both sides going for the win and the home side had a shot by Campbell charged down by Jose Fonte whilst at the other end a Watson corner gave Hudson an opportunity to head just wide of goal.

The Tigers had a great chance to regain the advantage on 64 minutes when Michael Turner found himself in space but headed wide of the target from a free kick on the right hand side.

Brown made his third and final change of the afternoon on 67 minutes as Nicky Barmby came back into the side at the expense of Hughes.

Two minutes later Neil Warnock made his first change as Paul Ifill came off the bench to go on the wing at the expense of Sinclair.

Julian Speroni saved well low down from Campbell after he latched onto a dangerous long throw, a tactic that Moses used for Palace through the game as well.

The home side pushed for victory in the final stages and got it courtesy of an assist from a Marney corner which was powered into the net by the head of Ian Ashbee and could have got a third as well but Speroni made an excellent double save to deny Folan.  

Defeat for Palace but results around the country mean they stay sixth going into the last weekend against Burnley at Selhurst Park.

Teams:

Hull Myhill, Ricketts, Turner, Brown, Pedersen (Doyle 32), Folan, Marney, Ashbee, Hughes (Barmby 68), Campbell, Windass (Fagan 24).

Subs Not Used: Duke, Walton.

Crystal Palace Speroni, Butterfield, Hill, Hudson, Fonte, Derry (Scannell 87), Soares, Watson, Sinclair (Ifill 70), Morrison, Moses.

Subs Not Used: Ashton, Hills, Bostock.

Booked: Derry.

Att: 24,350   Referee: R Booth (Sutton Ashfield).