Crystal Palace’s automatic promotion hopes took a battering as they were thumped 4-0 at home by Birmingham City.

It was the Eagles’ biggest defeat of the season and the first time they have lost back-to-back games since losing the first three matches of the season.

Strangely, the performance was better than two weeks ago when they lost 3-0 at Brighton but Birmingham took their chances with clinical efficiency as they showed Julian Speroni little respect on his 300th appearance for Palace.

The Eagles could have gone second with a win following Watford’s 3-3 draw with Burnley earlier in the day and started the better.

Kagisho Dikgacoi fired wide and Glenn Murray headed on to the roof of the net before Birmingham took the lead.

Nathan Redmond boosted his own already high profile by dancing past Palace’s desperate challenges on the edge of the box and firing low into the bottom corner across Speroni.

It was a beautiful individual goal but Palace felt aggrieved by the free kick given in the lead up to it for Yannick Bolasie’s slight push on Mitch Hancox and for the lack of a whistle when the ball hit Paul Robinson’s arm on its way to Redmond.

Palace looked deflated and were lacking formation with Jonathan Williams drifting inside from his left wing role and often leaving Dean Moxey exposed.

And it was from that side that led to Birmingham extending their lead. With neither Kevin Phillips or Williams choosing to track back, Redmond was given the time to pick out Ravel Morrison with a cross and Speroni had to pull off an excellent save. From Shane Ferguson’s corner, Damian Delaney powered a header into his own net under pressure from Nikola Zigic.

Phillips was anonymous playing up front with Glenn Murray and when he did get through on goal, his poor touch allowed Jack Butland to block.

Half time was greeted with a splattering of boos from the Palace fans and manager Ian Holloway acted by throwing on Stephen Dobbie in place of Jazz Richards.

Dobbie had an instant impact as Palace gathered a head of steam. He had a shot well saved by Butland and then crossed to the back post for Phillips who could only guide the ball back across goal.

But from nothing Birmingham extended their lead and again it came down the wings. This time, Dikgacoi, now at right back, was outnumbered and Hancox had time to cross low and Morrison converted.

It was 4-0 on 69 minutes when Mile Jedinak was penalised for a foul on Morrison and Ferguson curled the free kick beautifully into the top corner.

On came Andre Moritz and Aaron Wilbraham for Williams and Phillips and Moritz tried hard for a consolation goal but saw a free kick saved and a volley go just wide before missing the ball from a yard out with the goal-gaping.

It is a worrying dip in form at just the wrong time for Palace who now go to Blackpool on Easter Monday searching for a return to form if they are to keep up any hope of making the top two come May.