A Jean-Philippe Mateta goal has moved Crystal Palace three points clear of the EPL drop zone. (AP PHOTO)
A Jean-Philippe Mateta goal has moved Crystal Palace three points clear of the EPL drop zone. (AP PHOTO) Credit: AAP
Jean-Philippe Mateta has fired Crystal Palace to a first Premier League away win of the season and left Ipswich Town still without a victory on home soil.
Mateta struck in the second half to secure a 1-0 success for the Eagles with the only real piece of quality in a nervy encounter between two struggling teams on Tuesday night.
It is now two wins and three draws from the last six matches for Oliver Glasner's side, whose winter revival is gathering pace nicely following a sticky start to the campaign.
The first chance fell to Ipswich, who were missing Socceroos Massimo Luongo and Cameron Burgess, with Marc Guehi just getting ahead of Dara O'Shea as he went for Leif Davis' corner.
For Palace, Cheick Doucoure's fierce shot from the edge of the box was blocked by Jacob Greaves before Mateta sent Eberechi Eze racing through, with Arijanet Muric saving the midfielder's effort.
The hosts upped the ante as the first half drew to a close and were denied by a point-blank save by Dean Henderson from Harry Clarke's near-post header.
Shortly after the interval Wes Burns got clear down the right and lifted an inviting cross towards Liam Delap, whose header was straight at Henderson.
However, from out of nowhere Palace conjured up a lightning counter-attack to go ahead on the hour.
Eze led the charge before feeding Mateta, who surged forward with a couple of stepovers before brushing off the attention of Greaves and finishing superbly past Muric.
It was the French forward's sixth goal of the season, and his first away from Selhurst Park.
The same combination almost doubled Palace's lead, Eze lifting the ball in behind for Mateta to chase but this time Muric spread himself well to make a save.
Back came Ipswich with Davis fizzing in another cross for Delap, who somehow mistimed his jump and completely missed the ball from six yards.
As time ticked down Greaves looped a header against the far post, with the rebound just eluding substitute Ali-Al Hamadi on another frustrating night for the Tractor Boys.
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