Early drama cost the U's dear as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Crystal Palace.

The Eagles raced into an early lead thanks to Clinton Morrison's sharp finish and the U's had to then play 83 minutes of the match with ten men after Pat Baldwin saw red for a professional foul.

The man disadvantage, in the main part, did not show as the U's battled their way back into the match, with Johnnie Jackson grabbing the equaliser.

But, no sooner had they clawed themselves level, Palace edged back in front as the U's failed to clear and Morrison got his second - with a hint of a foul on Dean Gerken along the way.

Speroni's first half goalkeeping efforts had ensured that the visitors had stayed in front and this time there was no way back for Geraint Williams men and, ahead of two tough away trips, they will know that difficult times await unless another victory can be achieved soon.

The U's named an unchanged side for the visit of Palace, with Teddy Sheringham returning from his substitution to take a place on the bench.

It was the visitors that started on the front foot, moving the ball around well, but the U's were looking more incisive when they did manage to gain possession.

Yeates already hads the measure of Hill in the early stages and skipped past his man after a good ball from Balogh to send over a dangerous low cross that Hudson did well to block with U's men lingering.

A similar cross at the other end saw Palace take the lead, though. Scowcroft was the provider and Morrison was on hand to tuck the ball past Gerken.

Bad went to worse for the U's ninety seconds later as Ifill managed to escape the attentions of the Colchester defence and was caught by Baldwin - the Colchester man seeing red.

Morrison was right in the thick of it and nearly doubled the advantage on nine minutes as the ball came in from Hill, but he could only deflect the ball straight at Gerken.

The home defence was at sixes and sevens and, with Baldwin's berth not filled at the back, Scowcroft was clear through the middle and, without the pace of Morrison, he opted to shoot early but Gerken blocked.

The U's did then manage to make their change and Connolly came on with Izzet the man sacrificed as the home team went with a tight three in midfield.

The home team's first sight of goal came on 15 minutes as Granville floated over a dangerous cross and, as it eventually dropped to Jackson, he drilled in a first time shot that went just over the crossbar.

The nerves were clear in the home team though and a misunderstanding between Connolly and Gerken almost proved costly, with the U's keeper getting in just in time to clear the ball with Scowcroft lingering.

The visitors were a constant threat on the counterattack, but balls over the fullbacks were proving a useful outlet for the U's as they tried to turn Palace around and earn themselves some time and get out at the back.

One such ball sent Lisbie into the box on 23 minutes and he contrived some space only to see his shot blocked, before Watson's follow-up was bravely denied by Hudson.

And the U's striker then had another effort not far away, reaching a Yeates corner with a header that looped up and landed on top of the bar, although it appeared Speroni might have helped it on its way despite the award of a goal kick.

Despite being a man down, the U's were seeing more of the ball, and they went close again on the half hour mark. Lisbie escaped the offside trap and cut inside and fired in a left footed drive that Speroni saved with a great stop.

The keeper did even better from the set piece, as Yeates' ball swung into the box was met by a powerful Lisbie header that was tipped over at full stretch by the Palace man.

There was a nervous moment on forty minutes as Ifill nipped in in front of Duguid and Gerken had to be quick off his line to deny the Palace man in the box.

The U's went straight down the other end and Jackson picked up on a loose ball around the edge of the box, only to see his shot well blocked again.

Speroni then had a nervous moment similar to that of Gerken's as a heavy backpass had him scrambling to clear as Lisbie attempted to get there first.

The U's went into the half time interval a goal adrift, but started the half more concerned with the injury of Ifill, who was happy to try and take the sting out of the restart by taking his time in getting off the pitch before being replaced.

Whilst the winger was off the pitch, the U's again went close as Yeates skipped into the box and saw his cross-cum-shot deflected just wide.

The home fans decided it was time to get behind their players, and they were nearly rewarded as Jackson seized on a loose ball to step towards goal and drill a right footed effort just wide.

But it was to prove a rare effort for the home team in the opening exchanges of the second half, as the visitors slowed the tempo down.

Scowcroft came close to doubling their advantage on the hour mark as a Balogh backpass was undercooked and Gerken had to go into the tackle with the Palace man, with the deflection going just wide for a corner.

From the second set piece, the U's hooked the ball clear and Lisbie and Yeates broke in on goal, with the striker having his shot deflected wide for a corner.

Lisbie then showed tenacity to rob his man of the ball and then he cut into the box, laying the ball into the danger area, only to find that Platt had gone near post and noone else had followed him into the Palace box.

The visitors then spurned two golden chances, as first Watson and then Morrison miscued when given a clear sight of goal from balls sent into the area.

The wonder was whether the U's could capitalise on Palace's profligacy would cost them, but with the U's having been down to ten men for most of the game, their tiredness would surely start to count.

Duguid tried to take the initiative midway through the second half, darting into the box on the end of a 1-2 with Yeates, only for the return ball to be just a little too straight for the home captain's requirements.

His lead was followed by Jackson who drove into the box and got on the end of a better Yeates ball to slot a fine left footed finish past the exposed Speroni with 21 minutes left.

Ben Watson was nearly in himself at the other end, as a series of deflections sent him in on goal, but the ball was cleared by Duguid.

The U's were not level for long as the resultant set piece was not fully cleared. As Derry headed the ball back into the danger area, Gerken appeared to be fouled as Morrison headed home on 74 minutes.

The goal precipitated a string of substitutions as Jamie Guy came on for Platt, whilst Lisbie was replaced by Teddy Sheringham for the final fifteen minutes of the game.

Three Palace players made their way into the book in the second half - Lawrence's earlier yellow for a foul was joined by one for Martin for throwing the ball away and Scowcroft for repeated fouling.

The U's were not going to give up without a fight and kept probing in the later stages of the match.

But it was becoming desperation stuff and Palace were happy to squeeze the life out of the match.

Yeates' frustration boiled over as he kicked the ball away for another yellow card and it summed up another trying afternoon at Layer Road.

Palace edge closer to the U's with the three points and a result is required by Geraint Williams' men in one of the next two games if they are to stay clear of the bottom three.