Crystal Palace chief Peter Taylor insists referee Andy D'Urso was correct not to send Julian Speroni packing after the keeper handled outside the box in the 1-0 defeat at Ipswich Town.

Jonathan Walters' 71 minute header was enough to secure the three points for Jim Magilton's men as Palace's unbeaten start to the Championship season came to a halt.

But the Portman Road side felt Palace custodian Speroni should have been give his marching orders on 43 minutes after handling on the edge of his box.

However, referee Mr D'Urso only brandished a yellow card, much to the annoyance of the home players and support.

But despite calls for the goalkeeper to be sent off, the Eagles boss said the referee was right to show Speroni a yellow card, and not the red that so many had expected.

Taylor said: "Of course he shouldn't be out there handling the ball but I was always confident it would be a yellow card not red because it wasn't a clear-cut goal scoring opportunity."

And after Palace's first defeat of the league campaign the Selhurst Park chief was not too downbeat about his sides performance - but admitted he expects more from his players.

"It was our first defeat of the season, but I have no complaints about the effort of the team, said Taylor.

"It wasn't a great performance by us, but I know we can do a great deal better. You have got to work exceptionally hard in the Championship or you won't get your rewards."

And after a tentative start to the clash the home side created the first real opening on 12 minutes after Alan Lee failed to head home from eight yards after Walters cross.

Stuart Green came agonisingly close to punishing Lee for the missed opportunity after forcing Tractorboys keeper Neil Alexander into a good save from a 30-yard free-kick on 33 minutes.

Gary Roberts and Tommy Miller both came close to opening the scoring before the break and Green nearly made them pay again, but the midfielder miscued a half-volley from just inside the box in first-half stoppage time.

Clinton Morrison should have scored his 100th Eagles goal on 65 minutes after good work from substitute Shefki Kuqi - but his goal bound shot was somehow deflected behind for a corner.

And after that the Suffolk side began to turn the screw with the lively Pablo Counago and Roberts both missing chances to put Ipswich ahead before Walters' capitalised on some poor marking by Tony Craig to give Ipswich the lead.

Taylor threw on Dougie Freedman and Jeff Hughes in a bid to salvage something from the game and Kuqi, Scowcroft and Hughes himself had chances to rescue a point for Palace before Speroni made a miraculous double save from Danny Haynes ad Billy Clark in stoppage time to keep the deficit to one.