Crystal Palace 2 Sheffield Wednesday 0

Morrison fills Johnson boots for Palace

With Andy Johnson out injured for at least another fortnight, Morrison's re-acquaintance with his old club has proved a shrewd transfer move. Crystal Palace were hoping for regular contributions from Johnson but now it is Morrison's responsibility to give the Eagles some impetus after their sluggish start to the season.

Dowie said: "Clinton is on excellent form and this was a good win. The expectations levels are so different after being in the Premiership and we haven't played to those levels yet."

The former Birmingham City striker's fourth goal in five games certainly gave his side some sort of insurance which they needed given their obvious nervousness in defence. With Ben Watson having just curled a shot wide from 25 yards, Palace were straight back at Sheffield Wednesday. Marco Reich, signed from Derby County and operating out on the left, hit the perfect cross to the far post where Dougie Freedman headed back across goal for Morrison to tap in from all of one yard out.

In fact, Morrison, who cost £2m at the end of August, should have scored his second nine minutes later. Running in on David Lucas, the Wednesday goalkeeper presented a difficult target to beat but Morrison's shot was unconvincing.

For the visitors, Chris Brunt's free-kick after ten minutes was spilled by Gabor Kiraly but Chris Eagles wasted the follow-up.

Palace doubled their lead and although there was more than half an hour remaining, Wednesday appeared to have run out of ideas. From Jobi McAnuff's cross out on the left, Boyce stuck his head out in rather speculative fashion and diverted the ball past the wrong-footed Lucas.

Crystal Palace: (4-4-2) Kiraly; Butterfield, Hall, Ward, Boyce; McAnuff, Watson (Hughes, 81), Soares, Reich; Freedman, Morrison. Substitutes not used: Hudson, Borrowdale, Andrews, Speroni (gk)

Sheffield Wednesday: (4-4-2) Lucas; Simek (Bullen, 62), Lee, Wood, Hills; Eagles, Whelan, O'Brien, Brunt (Partridge, 71); Peacock, Graham (Corr, 83). Substitutes not used: Coughlan, Rocastle.

Referee: L Probert (Gloucestershire)