BBC SPORT | ENGLISH DIVISION 1 | Sheff Wed 4-1 C Palace

Sheffield Wednesday virtually guaranteed their First Division survival with a comprehensive win over struggling Crystal Palace.

Their strong performace was capped by a goal for Stuart Ripley - the on-loan Southampton winger - on his full debut.

The Owls had to come from behind after an early setback, Clinton Morrison having put Palace into the lead from close range on two minutes.

Wednesday levelled the scores through Efan Ekoku just before the half-hour mark before Gilles de Bilde put the home side into the lead.

Palace were thrown a lifeline just before half-time after Gerald Sibon was judged to have brought down Dean Austin.

But the Palace skipper's weak penalty was well saved by Owls goalkeeper Kevin Pressman.

Wednesday then scored twice in the second half to put the game beyond reach.

Palace could not have got off to a better start when Craig Harrison's through-ball found Hayden Mullins with acres of space on the right wing.

The midfielder's curling effort hit the foot of the Owls post only for Morrison to tap in the rebound.

But Wednesday pulled themselves back on level terms when Trond Soltvedt's cross was headed down by Sibon to Ekoku, who nodded the ball past Palace keeper Aleksandrs Kolinko.

They established a lead on 32 minutes, Ekoku this time the provider to de Bilde.

The Belgian international put the ball onto his left foot before driving a low 12-yard shot in off the keeper's left-hand post.

Ripley's promising debut

After the break Palace looked to get back into the game and David Hopkin's fierce effort deflected wide for a corner.

But, at the other end, Sibon latched on to a Stuart Ripley pass before cutting inside the Palace defence and firing a low effort into the bottom left-hand corner from 20 yards.

On 52 minutes Mullins' run and low drive forced Pressman to tip the ball wide for a corner before Hopkins' fierce drive deflected wide for a corner.

But as the visitors pressed further it was the home side who went on to score on 63 minutes.

Sibon was again involved as his free-kick was met by the glancing header of Ripley to leave Kolinko with no chance.

It was Ripley's first goal for the Owls on his full debut after his loan move from Southampton last month.

The former England international went close to adding a fifth Owls goal but Kolinko saved from point-blank range.

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Sheffield Wednesday: Pressman, Haslam, Walker, Harkness, Palmer, Ripley, Sibon, Soltvedt, Bromby, Ekoku, De Bilde.
Subs: Stringer, Lescott, Di Piedi, Geary, Morrison.

Crystal Palace: Kolinko, Smith, Austin, Zhiyi, Harrison, Mullins, Hopkin, Fuller, Rodger, Morrison, Riihilahti.
Subs: Berhalter, Freedman, Black, Thomson, Forssell.

Referee: M Cowburn (Blackpool).