A moment of madness by Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni helped catapult Palace to defeat against Everton in their first game at Selhurst Park since promotion back to the Premiership.

Speroni stupidly gave away a 19th minute penalty from which Everton equalised.

The Argentine keeper collected a Tony Popovic back pass and tried to take the ball past Kevin Campbell, but the former Arsenal striker won the ball before taking it away from the Palace goalkeeper.

In a desperate attempt to win the ball back, Speroni sent Campbell sprawling in the area and referee Mark Clattenburg pointed to the spot.

Danish international Thomas Gravesen made no mistake from the spot, slotting the ball low to Speroni's left-hand side.

This came after Mark Hudson had put Palace in front after nine minutes.

A free-kick in the centre circle was played quickly to Andy Johnson. The striker's blocked shot squirmed out to Wayne Routledge on the right, who beat Gary Naysmith before crossing to the far post where Mark Hudson, up in the opposition penalty area for the free-kick, arrived to head the ball past Palace old boy Nigel Martyn in the Everton goal.

Palace had been forced into making two changes from the team that earned a 1-1 opening day draw at Norwich.

Dougie Freedman partnered Johnson up-front after Sandor Torghelle injured his ankle in Hungary's mid-week friendly win against Scotland, and Michael Hughes could only make the bench after returning home early with a groin injury from international duty with Northern Ireland. Aki Riihilahti moved up from the bench to take his place.

The goal rejuvenated Everton but it was Palace who had the best chances to score a second goal.

First, Johnson went close just before the half-hour mark from Emmerson Boyce's driven cross before Freedman volleyed over at the far post following a corner.

Wayne Routledge was causing Naysmith all sorts of problems down the right wing and it was no surprise when the Scottish international received a yellow card after a late tackle on the 19-year-old.

Speroni partly atoned for his error on 52 minutes when Bent swivelled on a lose ball on the edge of the area and struck a shot that flew towards the top left-hand corner of Speroni's goal but the Argentine made a fantastic diving save.

Out of nothing Everton took the lead in the 62nd minute as Gravesen scored his second of the game. Once again, Palace failed to clear the ball properly and Gravesen picked up the ball and advanced a few yards before curling a brilliant strike past the outstretched hand of Speroni from just outside the right-hand side of the area.

Palace's quest for an equaliser was given a boost on 70 minutes as Naysmith was dismissed for his second bookable offence.

After a scramble in the Palace box, Routledge broke on the right by flicking the ball past Naysmith but the Scot pulled him back and was shown the red card by referee Clattenburg.

With only 15 minutes to go Dowie changed things round by playing three strikers as Boyce made way for new £2m striker Ivan Kaviedes but Everton prevented him from touching the ball for some time as they kept the ball in midfield, passing superbly.

With only ten minutes left Palace fans thought they had won a penalty when Johnson was brought down in the area after a fantastic ball by Kaviedes put him through on goal, however the referee waved away Palace appeals.

And only moments later, Palace fell further behind when a long ball over the top put Bent through on goal and the striker made no mistake, slotting the ball past Speroni.

Palace: Speroni; Boyce (Kaviedes 76), Hudson, Popovic, Granville; Routledge, Riihilahti (Derry 72), Hall, Kolkka; Freedman, Johnson. Att: 23,666.