The Blues were competitive across the 90 minutes, with a handful of chances to earn their first Premier League victory of 2025, but the Eagles took their opportunity in the 82nd minute to take all three points thanks to Sarr's deft chip over Alex Palmer.
Crystal Palace were presented with a clear-cut opportunity to open the scoring inside the opening two minutes of the game as Adam Wharton split Ipswich’s defence, allowing Eddie Nketiah to run through on goal before being denied by Palmer.
Up the other end of the pitch, Leif Davis’ cutback from the left found Jaden Philogene in the centre of the box, but the winger couldn’t make proper contact with his shot as Dean Henderson clawed it away from danger.
Jaden Philogene’s early shot was one of the best opportunities of the first halfJaden Philogene’s early shot was one of the best opportunities of the first half (Image: PA)
From there, the fast start fizzled out a bit. Liam Delap flashed a shot over the bar in the fifth minute, with midfielder Jefferson Lerma firing wide from outside the area nine minutes later.
Maxence Lacroix’s ball over the top gave Ismaila Sarr room to run down the right, but a slight tug on his shirt from Jacob Greaves saw the Town defender booked and a free-kick given for the hosts just after the 15th minute.
Eberechi Eze stepped up to take it, firing into the wall as Palmer gathered before Nketiah could fire into the net.
Greaves made up for it with an outstanding block that denied a near-certain goal. Nketiah’s through ball to Eze put the England international into a great position, but Greaves rushed in at the last moment to put his body on the line, sending the ball out for a corner that Ipswich managed to clear in the 20th minute.
England boss Thomas Tuchel was in attendance at Selhurst ParkEngland boss Thomas Tuchel was in attendance at Selhurst Park (Image: PA)
Town gained confidence, driven by the returning Julio Enciso, who combined with Jens Cajuste to win the ball off Eberechi Eze and break into the box in the 23rd minute. The Brighton loanee danced past Marc Guehi, sending the defender crashing to the floor before firing at Henderson.
Palace enjoyed the better of the chances before the break, with Luke Woolfenden doing well to get in front of Nketiah in the 40th minute. Loose passes from Oliver Glasner’s side were met with groans from the home fans, with clear-cut opportunities at a premium.
Ipswich had a corner and a free-kick early in the second half, but Eze's deflected effort saw the Eagles come inches away from taking the lead, looping up and over Palmer before clipping the post in front of Nketiah, who couldn't react quickly enough.
A lunge from Wharton on Delap, followed by a tug from Chis Richards on Jack Clarke, saw both Palace players booked at the same time. Town, however, were unable to threaten from the resulting free-kick in the 53rd minute.
Town had opportunities to earn a much-needed victoryTown had opportunities to earn a much-needed victory (Image: PA)
Guehi was booked for sliding in on Enciso two minutes later, but replays showed that it was a harsh decision from referee Simon Hooper.
The game began to open up. The Blues were presented with a brilliant opportunity as Clarke stole the ball off Eze, running through on goal and squaring to Enciso, ultimately playing the ball just behind him. The Paraguayan saw his shot held comfortably by Henderson.
But Ipswich weren't done there. Delap's strike from a tight angle in the 63rd minute won them a corner, which resulted in a scramble before Palace cleared the ball off the line.
A booking for Enciso came after he gave away a foul soon after, and while Town managed to deal with the initial threat, a back-peddling Palmer was forced to tip Eze's effort wide after it deflected off O'Shea.
The Eagles struck in the final stages of the game to take all three pointsThe Eagles struck in the final stages of the game to take all three points (Image: Ross Halls)
Heading into the final 10 minutes of the game, it was either side's to win. Substitute Omari Hutchinson did well to shrug off his man before delivering a cross onto the head of Ben Johnson, but he headed well over the crossbar from close range.
In the end, it was Palace who took the points. Sarr tried to combine with Daichi Kamada, who was tackled by Kalvin Phillips. The ball, however, bounced into the box for Sarr, allowing him to dink it over Palmer to open the scoring in the 82nd minute.
Town chased a late equaliser, but the hosts looked comfortable in their defensive shape, with Kieran McKenna's men falling to their third consecutive defeat of the campaign.
Palace XI: 3-4-3: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton (Devenny 87'), Lerma, Mitchell (Chilwell 72'); Sarr, Nketiah (Kamada 72'), Eze (Esse 90+1')
Town XI: 4-2-3-1: Palmer; O'Shea, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis; Phillips, Cajuste (Taylor 84'); Philogene (Johnson 67'), Enciso (Broadhead 75'), Clarke (Hutchinson 67'); Delap (Hirst 84')