Crystal Palace overcame being pegged back by a controversial equaliser to edge to victory over Derby.
Paddy McCarthy opened the scoring with a spectacular 40-yard shot that flew into the top corner.
But Derby levelled when Luke Varney challenged keeper Julian Speroni and the ball was judged to have crossed the line before being cleared.
Palace protested to no avail but they had the last word when Shefki Kuqi hit the winner from Craig Beattie's cross.
Derby manager Paul Jewell: "From first to last they were the better side," said Jewell.
"At the moment, we are chalk and cheese. We are up and then we are down and we it's so inconsistent it's driving me up the wall.
"The last three away games in the league have been really concerning but we went to Stoke [in the Carling Cup] played well and fought."
Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock: "That [the referee's failure to spot a perceived foul on goalkeeper Julian Speroni for Derby's equaliser] won us the game.
"We lost our discipline for 10 minutes but I said at half-time that everyone had to calm down and play football. We were a lot better in the second half and were very professional.
"We also had commitment. Paddy McCarthy broke his nose and he was super to carry on like he did."
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