Neil Warnock set his sights on sixth spot and a place in the play-offs after seeing his Crystal Palace side end their winless run with a 1-0 victory at Preston.

Clinton Morrison's close range finish with 15 minutes to go sealed the points in a game the Eagles dominated throughout to win their first match in six.

The result puts Palace only three points behind sixth-placed Ipswich Town, and Warnock thinks they can be caught.

He said: "We've got a bit better and when were better we've got a chance. With two home games in a week we've got to look to get four points and right back in.

"I don't think there's an outstanding sixth team this year, I think everybody will be after the sixth position really.

"It was probably one of the best team performances of the season that as a team. I didn't think there were any individuals who were outstanding, I just thought they were all very good in their jobs.

"Because of the movement of the front three, the midfield three who have been very poor the last month were a lot more on the ball.

"I thought we varied it. I thought we kept the ball well, played it long, played it short. I thought we did very well, I thought it was quite professional today.

"We had so many people out and I thought it was a good reflection on the way the lads are, they're good professionals."

Morrison's goal was reward for an Eagles side that dominated much of the possession and looked comfortable throughout.

As early as the eighth minute Ben Watson blazed over in the box before a sublime bit of control by Victor Moses, making his first ever league start, set up Morrison whose shot was blocked.

Paul Ifill just failed to reach Lee Hills' far post cross after half an hour and was then denied by a superb save from Andy Lonergan after a swift counter-attack involving Hills, Moses and Morrison.

Preston made two changes at the interval and looked a far better side, with Julian Speroni forced to make two good saves from Chris Sedgwick and Neil Mellor.

Five minutes later those saves proved crucial when Moses rose highest to nod Watson's corner towards goal where Morrison was lurking to score his 14th of the season.

Academy player Ashley-Paul Robinson came on for his debut with five minutes left and did well as Preston failed to break down Palace's stubborn defence in their search for an equaliser.