Derby County are still searching for their first away victory of the campaign after a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace this afternoon.

Darren Ambrose got the only goal of the game early in the second half at Selhurst Park, slotting the ball home from close range.

But it was Julian Speroni in the Palace goal who the Eagles really had to thank, as he superbly denied Rob Hulse and Kris Commons late on with superb saves.

New signing James Vaughan was handed a debut 24 hours after joining the Rams on loan from Everton while there was a welcome return to action for defender Dean Leacock who made his first start since November 2008 after recovering from a long-standing groin and pelvic problem.

Vaughan started in attack alongside Rob Hulse at the expense of Kris Commons while Leacock's start came at the expense of Shaun Barker at the heart of the defence alongside Miles Addison.

In glorious sunshine at Selhurst Park the Rams got the game underway and were out of the blocks brightly.

The first shot at goal came after good work down the right by Croft on five minutes. His deep cross into the Palace area picked out Vaughan at the far post, but with an acrobatic effort he fired the ball high over the Palace crossbar.

Derby enjoyed the better of the possession early on as Palace looked nervy after their 4-0 reverse at home to Scunthorpe a week ago. By contrast the Rams did not look like a side that had lost their last three games, looking confident and taking the game to their opponents.

A moment of madness by Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni on eighteen minutes could, and probably should, have seen the Argentine sent off for deliberate handball outside his area.

Under pressure from Hulse just outside his area he picked the ball up, but Referee only handed the Palace No.1 a yellow card. Teale fired the resultant free-kick goalwards, but Speroni tipped the ball over the crossbar diving to his left.

More good play by Rams saw Hulse feed Livermore down the right-hand side of the box but his powerful shot was well turned away by Speroni.

Palace's first opportunity came just before the half-hour from a corner, but Ertl put the ball wide inside a packed six-yard box when he should really have done better after finding space.

Ertl fired Palace's first effort on target five minutes later from thirty yards but Bywater made a routine stop diving low to his left.

Derby looked to have a good penalty shout late in the half when Hulse was pulled down in the box by McCarthy, but Mr Oliver waved play on.

Palace enjoyed a good spell towards the end of the half, and had two good chances to break the deadlock.

Ambrose blazed over well placed inside the Derby area after Lee headed the ball back across goal, and given he was inside the six yard box he should really have done better.

The best Palace chance of the half fell to Alan Lee whose powerful header at the far post was superbly saved by Bywater, who also reacted quickest to dive on the loose ball to prevent any further danger.

Palace had the ball in the Derby net three minutes into the second half but Ertl's goal was ruled out as Clint Hill was standing in an offside position in front of Stephen Bywater.

After a good passing move involving Connolly, Vaughan and Livermore on 54 minutes Gary Teale flashed a shot towards goal that whistled wide of Speroni's far post.

A minute later the home side opening the scoring through Ambrose eight yards out. Derry's header into the Rams box fell kindly into the path of the midfielder, who kept his composure to slide the ball past Bywater.

Derby looked for a quick response after falling behind, but were unable to test Speroni in the Eagles goal.

Stephen Pearson replaced the young legs of Livermore in the middle of the park as Derby made their first change of the afternoon.

Palace could have doubled their lead with twenty minutes remaining but Ertl's powerful header from a free-kick hit the crossbar and looped onto the top of Bywater's goal for a goal-kick.

Hulse tried his luck to bring the Rams level with a shot on the turn, but Speroni saved easily.

Shaun Barker replaced Leacock with the Rams defender seemingly suffering from cramp going into the final ten minutes of the game on his return from almost a year on the sidelines.

Scannell almost put the game to bed with ten minutes remaining when clear on goal, but Connolly raced back to make a superb challenge at the expense of a corner.

Commons replaced Addison as Derby increased their attacking options in the hope of an equaliser.

He quickly got into the action and delivered a superb cross which Palace were forced to put behind for a corner.

From the resultant flag-kick Hulse's towering header towards goal was superbly turned away by Speroni, and from the rebound Vaughan's overhead kick was off target.

The save brought the Palace fans to their feet after denying the striker what looked to be a certain goal from point-blank range.

Derby threw bodies forwards in the closing stages and put Palace under pressure, but Speroni was their nemesis once again as he denied Commons superbly diving to his right to tip his low drive around the post.

Commons was hurt in the process after being on the receiving end of a strong challenge by a Palace defender, and he had to be taken off on a stretcher to add to Derby's current injury concerns.

Despite well over five minutes of added time, Derby couldn't find an equaliser and it was Palace who took the points.

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Hill, Derry, McCarthy, Fonte, Ambrose, Danns, Scannell (Carle 88), Lee, Butterfield, Ertl
Subs: Moses, Flahavan, Hills, Cadogan, Smith, N'Diayee
Bookings: Speroni, McCarthy
Goals: Ambrose (55)

Derby County: Bywater, Connolly, Moxey, Leacock (Barker 78), Addison (Commons 81), Croft, Savage, Livermore (Pearson 67), Teale, Vaughan, Hulse
Subs: Deeney, McEveley, Dickov, Hendrie
Bookings: Livermore, Croft

Referee: Mr M Oliver

Attendance: 12,760 (963 Derby County Fans)