Luton Town 2 v 0 Palace

Coca-Cola Championship

PALACE boss Iain Dowie gave a frank appraisal after Luton Town did the double over his side for the first time since 1973.

He said: "It was our worst performance this year. Luton were better than us in every department and we're disappointed.

"Whatever happens you have to outwork the other team and Luton outworked us and they deserved to win, no question about it.

"I thought all our players, Emmerson Boyce being the exception, did not work hard enough and I never say that about my team."

First-half goals from Markus Heikkinen and Rowan Vine sank the Eagles who only had Clinton Morrison's shot against the post to show for their endeavours.

Palace are now ninth in the Coca Cola Championship.

Dowie added: "I have told the players how I feel.

"It was good for them to listen.

"If they had reacted to me they might have got more than they had bargained for."

Palace face a change from league action tonight as they travel to the Riverside Stadium to take on Premiership side Middlesbrough in the Carling Cup.

Crystal Palace: Kiraly; Borrowdale (Andrews, 62); F Hall; Ward; Boyce; Hughes; Watson (Johnson, 68); Soares; McAnuff (Macken, 68), Freedman, Morrison.

Subs not used: Leigertwood; Speroni.

Att: 10,248.