Crystal Palace turned the screw on the U's hopes of survival as they repeated their 2-1 win from earlier in the season.

The U's had fought their way back into the game almost immediately after falling behind in the first half but could not repeat the feat in the second as the Eagles closed the game out.

The home team had struck the woodwork three times during the course of the afternoon and probably merited being in front come the final whistle, but it will be of no solace to the U's fans as they headed home to Essex.

The woes were worsened by the fact that the teams around them - Sheffield Wednesday, Coventry City and Preston - all garnered a three point haul and the trapdoor into League One opens just a little wider.

The U's will of course keep battling, and know now that a big haul of points is needed from their three home games in the coming week.

The U's made three changes from the side that were beaten heavily at Plymouth on Tuesday night, as Karl Duguid and John White came back from injury and Clive Platt returned to the starting eleven.

They had fallen behind early against Argyle ands were left breathing a sigh of relief as the home team spurned a couple of early chances to put themselves in front.

Victor Moses was a constant threat throughout the first half and he showed as early as the second minute what he was about as he sent over a low cross from the left that eluded all players till it got to Soares, who lifted his effort well over the bar.

Five minutes later and the ball was sent over from the right and it took a couple of deflections before finding Lee Hills on the left hand side, but he pulled his shot horribly wide.

The U's started to come into the game, with Hammond leading the way with an energetic performance in the heart of the team and he was the first to go close for the visitors on fifteen minutes.

From a corner on the left, he met the ball at the near post and his header, whilst not hugely powerful, was spilt by Speroni and it needed a defender to hook the ball off the line.

The home side eventually took the lead on 20 minutes as the ball got in from the left, and Scowcroft, Coyne and Ifil all went for the low cross. It eluded the first two players as they tussled for it, but the unfortunate Ifil found the ball at his feet and he couldn't help but turn it in.

The U's could quite easily have been crushed but they were level within 102 seconds. The ball ricocheted into the path of Platt, who sent a good ball into the run of Lisbie.

He still had plenty to do with 35 yards to bear down on goal, but he skipped past one challenge expertly and kept his head to draw Speroni and slide the ball to the keeper's right and into the bottom corner for his twelfth for the season.

The U's were in good nick now and Hammond was getting beyond the front two on a regular basis. Duguid sent one low cross over on 28 minutes that eluded everyone, but the visitors were at least posing a threat.

With Moses on the flanks, though, Palace always had an outlet and he caused plenty of problems as the first half came to a close.

Just after the half hour mark, Watson stepped up to strike a free kick won by his winger and watched it crash back off the bar. As the ball was put back into the danger area, Scowcroft headed just wide.

The home side were having some good chances and Butterfield stepped onto a ball on 40 minutes to drill in a shot from distance that Coyne bravely stuck a head on to divert over the cross bar.

Next up, the visitors hit the post again as Scowcroft rose highest to head the ball, but he could only watch on as it clipped the outside of the post.

From another free kick won by Moses late in the first half, Watson floated a glorious ball into the area and Morrison's deft header looked like it might nestle in the far side netting. Just as it looked set to go in, though, Gerken's outstretched hand arrived and helped it around the post to safety.

If the U's thought that half time might bring some respite, they were mistaken as the home team continued where they left off after the restart,

Virgo and Coyne had to be on their toes in the first ten minutes after half time as dangerous crosses came into the area.

Palace were having plenty of pressure and they found the U's sitting too deep. Ten minutes into the second half, Watson crossed into the box and although Morrison headed into the air, it needed Virgo to head bravely away under the crossbar.

The U's did have a good chance on the hour mark though as the visitors took Palace's lead as they got in down the flanks and sent over a cross that Platt glanced wide of goal when well placed.

The home side had the ball in the back of the net midway through the second half, but after Hill's header came back off the post and Morrison tucked home, the linesman's flag ruled out the effort.

It was to prove a temporary let-off for the U's though as they continued to come under pressure from the home side. And they took the lead with 14 minutes to go.

Again a cross was not stopped from out wide and it skipped past three bodies before Watson stepped onto the ball to drill it past Gerken and restore the home team's lead.

The U's responded well to going behind again - forcing a series of corners to pin the home side back but with the players that they had on the pitch, the Eagles were always dangerous on the break.

They had the ball in the back of the net with 83 minutes gone as Ifil sent over a low cross that found Elito cutting in at the far post and although his effort found the goal, the linesman's flag had ruled it out early on.

At the other end, a dangerous corner came across and it was a relieved U's defence that cleared the ball.

They couldn't force any more pressure at the right end though, and the sands of time continue to work against the survival bid.