Shefki Kuqi marked his Crystal Palace return with the game-winning goal in a 2-1 win at Derby.
Controversy reigns at Pride Park
Shefki Kuqi marked his return to the Crystal Palace side with the game-winning goal as The Eagles beat Derby 2-1 at Pride Park.
In the first half, home debutant Luke Varney scored his first Derby goal to cancel out Paddy McCarthy's spectacular early strike for the visitors.
McCarthy scored a contender for goal of the season when he beat Roy Carroll with a shot from 40 yards out with just three minutes on the clock.
County cleared Ben Watson's initial free-kick but the ball found its way to McCarthy who unleashed a dipping shot which flew into the top left-hand corner.
Loan signing Varney, who will make his move from Charlton permanent in January, equalised for Derby four minutes before the break.
Pair clashed
Varney appeared to jump into Palace keeper Julian Speroni as the pair challenged for Przemyslaw Kazmierczak's left-wing cross inside the six-yard box.
Speroni appealed for a free-kick as the ball bounced towards the unguarded net but the controversy did not end there.
It was unclear whether the ball had crossed the line before being cleared by a Palace player but the referee's assistant flagged for a goal, prompting mass protests from the visitors.
Speroni was shown a yellow card by referee Michael Oliver at half-time for continuing to voice his displeasure at the Northumberland official as the players left the pitch.
Nathan Ellington, who kept his cool to score an injury-time penalty to send Derby through the the Carling Cup semi-finals in midweek, did not display the same composure when he headed Kazmierczak's near post cross wide early in the second half.
Warning shots
Kuqi twice fired warning shots across Derby's bow before restoring the visitors' lead in the 61st minute.
Craig Beattie looked to be offside when he received the ball wide on the left, but the on-loan West Brom striker advanced goalwards before sending in a low cross for strike partner Kuqi to beat Carroll from six yards.
Beattie could have all but sealed the points for Palace soon after but he was thwarted by the feet of Carroll.
Rams boss Paul Jewell introduced Rob Hulse, Emanuel Villa and Kris Commons in an attempt to salvage a second equalising goal, but it was to no avail.
