Clinical Mateta ruins Ipswich hopes in Crystal Palace's first away win | first division

Maybe the alarms can sound a little less loud to Crystal Palace. This was a controlled, commanding victory against opponents who barely managed a knock, easing the pressure on Oliver Glasner and suggesting genuine fears of relegation could prove short-lived. Jean-Philippe Mateta's goal, scored just before the hour, gave them exactly what they deserved and cast a pall of early winter gloom over Portman Road.

Ipswich usually put teams under pressure here but were rough and subdued, Kieran McKenna's concern was that they looked a class below their visitors at all times. The teams had started level on points, but if the Suffolk team cannot find a way to match opponents of Palace's physicality and intelligence, they will be considered dead. They are yet to win at home and the time will soon come when at least a handful of wins will be needed to keep local spirits high.

With freezing temperatures, the question at the start of the match was whether either team could light a fire in their relegation fight. Ipswich always knew the season would present this challenge, and their boss has failed so far due to his inability to convert consistent levels of performance into results. It is the eternal concern of the promoted, practical but toothless teams. A series of injuries have not helped much and the latest, that of the influential right-back Axel Tuanzebe, gave the start to local Harry Clarke.

For Palace, ambitions had been higher in August and, for Glasner, the hope was that the euphoria of Saturday's dramatic draw against Newcastle would provide its own boost. They had missed the stardust of Eberechi Eze and it was welcome that, after a month out, he was ready to start a second game in four days.

Both teams' strengths in transition were clear: Jack Clarke and Liam Delap were prowling around Ipswich and their centre-back Jacob Greaves, returning from an injury of his own, headed Eze's dangerous delivery away from Mateta. Harry Clarke then sublimely sent Wes Burns into space but the winger, perhaps frustrated by a slippery surface, slipped with his team-mates waiting for the serve.

Delap, a 21-year-old throwback, caused Maxence Lacroix to collapse after being late to a bouncing ball. The home crowd were furious at a series of free kicks awarded to Palace; It was clear they would have to endure a fight, and their first moment of dismay came in the 23rd minute when an Eze free-kick caused confusion until Dara O'Shea intervened.

Palace began to take the initiative, Eze found pockets and looked increasingly comfortable. Greaves blocked a volley from Cheick Doucouré and now Ipswich were struggling to maintain possession. From the resulting corner, Doucouré put a second ball into the area for Trevoh Chalobah to head too high for the first serious chance of the game.

Shortly afterwards, an error-plagued pass from Ipswich led to a cross from Tyrick Mitchell and Greaves deflected Daniel Muñoz's mistake. Then Palace should have scored when Eze, released by Mateta, took on Arijanet Muric but allowed the goalkeeper to save. There was only one team in the game at the time, although Doucouré, already cautioned, was lucky to escape further punishment after cutting down Jens Cayud. Finally, Ipswich discovered a threat: Clarke's near-post header forced Dean Henderson into a smart save.

They had been well below their best but started the second half at great speed, Delap heading a cross from Burns to Henderson. As expected, Glasner had replaced Doucouré with Jefferson Lerma; Whether by coincidence or not, Ipswich began to spread the ball around without causing unnecessary problems, but there was a feeling that the visitors always hit harder and the proof soon came.

When an Ipswich attack failed, Palace broke down the left and Eze fed Mateta in the inside channel. He had plenty to do but, outpacing Greaves in speed and strength with surprising ease, he found himself pitted against Muric and finished clinically.

The timing was bad for Ipswich, who don't usually let games go by. They had struggled to compete physically, which is not an unknown issue. McKenna made a triple change but Mateta quickly had the opportunity to finish, Muric saved with his legs and kept his team alive.

Ipswich smelled a breath and, for the first time, pushed Palace back in a concerted manner. Omari Hutchinson wasted two good crossing positions and, in the 87th minute, a header from Greaves went to the far post with no one willing to secure it. But it wasn't enough and the Eagles will now wonder if their campaign has finally taken off.