A MARCUS Stewart hat trick sunk Palace at the McAlpine Stadium as the Eagles' dismal away form continued on Saturday.

Neither side could make an opening in the first 15 minutes. Then Stewart made a 40-yard run for Huddersfield and bent his shot around Fraser Digby in the Palace goal for the opener. The 26-year-old made it two nine minutes later. Turning on a Steve Jenkins throw he chipped the keeper to the delight of the 10,453-strong crowd.

Palace, missing Attilio Lombardo and their Chinese internationals, had chances after the break, with Matt Jansen constantly posing a threat in the Huddersfield box.

On 63 minutes, Eagles boss Terry Venables tried to introduce more firepower, replacing Jason Crowe and Nick Rizzo with Sasa Curcic and David Ansalem. But as Palace pressed forward, gaps appeared at the back and Stewart completed his job eight minutes from time.

Delroy Facey added a fourth in the final minute of normal time against a Palace side which had been reduced to 10 men when Craig Moore limped off.

Palace travel to the Stadium of Light on Tuesday for the rearranged Sunderland game.

Palace have drawn Ruud Gullit's Newcastle away in the FA Cup third round on January 2.

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