Preston North End 4 Crystal Palace 1

CRYSTAL Palace player-manager Kit Symons was sent off as his side were given a football lesson by Preston at Deepdale.

After wasting a number of first-half chances, strikes in the second half from Dickson Etuhu, Graham Alexander, Eddie Lewis and David Healy secured a 4-1 victory.

Symons was given his marching orders for a professional foul on Ricardo Fuller just after the restart and, although Shaun Derry pulled one back for Palace, the result was never in doubt.

Any hope Symons had evaporated shortly after the restart when all of a sudden he found his side two goals down and himself in the tunnel following a straight red card for his foul on Fuller.

First Preston deservedly took the lead. Healy's shot was only parried by Myhre and Etuhu drilled home the rebound from close range.

Two minutes later, Symons saw red after pulling back Fuller who was through on goal and Alexander smashed home the resulting penalty.

Palace hit back when Hughes set Derry free and he ended a mazy run with an emphatic finish.

Fuller again, Healy and Lucketti - who headed over from another set piece - all threatened to increase Preston's lead before Lewis made the game safe for the Lancashire outfit.

The American had moments earlier forced Myhre into another fine save, but he despatched Fuller's cross right-footed in the 79th minute to make it 3-1 before Healy slid home Richard Creswell's pass in the closing stages.