Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock has revealed he ignored advice from the club's medical staff after introducing Paul Ifill as a late substitute in the 2-0 victory over Coventry City.

The former Sheffield United midfielder was not due to return from a thigh injury he sustained in the 2-1 victory over Colchester United until January - but he was a surprise inclusion on Palace's bench for the Boxing Day visit to the Ricoh Arena and was thrown on by Warnock on 85 minutes.

And Ifill celebrated his sooner than expected return to first team action with a late goal, adding to Clinton Morrison's 46th minute strike to extend Palace's unbeaten run to 11 games.

But Ifill's comeback could have been delayed if Eagles chief Warnock had taken the advice of his medical team.

He said: "Paul has had horrific injuries, not just this season, but over the last few years.

"I wanted to give him 30 minutes to put him in the frame for the game against Sheffield United.

"It was probably against medical advice that he played so I'm glad he scored."

Palace's afternoon could have turned out differently if Morrison had not continued his red hot form scoring his eighth goal in nine games, or if Julian Speroni had not saved Michael Doyle's penalty after Clint Hill was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box.

And Warnock praised Morrison and Speroni after the Boxing Day victory, which puts them just three points off the play-off spots.

"Clinton will be having a bit of a moan about coming off - but that's Clinton.

"He is where he is in the game because of what he done against Coventry.

"It looks like he only scores tap ins, but he puts a lot of thought and movement into it.

"It's not just luck; I've compiled a DVD of his previous seven goals to show the youngsters."

Of Speroni, the Eagles chief said: "The penalty save was probably the defining moment because it would have given them a lift.

"Julian's probably playing as well as he has ever played, he looks sharp and bright.

"So it's nice to know we have a safe pair of hands."