Crystal Palace have taken a 1-0 lead into half-time of Henning Berg's first match in charge of Blackburn Rovers with new manager Ian Holloway looking on.

The home side began the match on the front foot as Yannick Bolasie fired an effort just wide in the early stages.

Palace came close again just under 20 minutes later when Damien Delaney was denied by a flying save from Paul Robinson having met Owen Garvan's header.

Blackburn came within inches of taking the lead just minutes later as Dickson Etuhu's header rattled off the crossbar.

Garvan squandered a fine chance to break the deadlock just before the half-hour mark when he linked up with Glenn Murray and Wilfred Zaha, only to fire his shot over the bar.

Palace came even closer five minutes before the break as Zaha crossed the ball to Bolasie, who headed his effort against the post.

The breakthrough finally came on the stroke of half-time as Murray headed in Garvan's cross off the bar.