Victor Moses again proved his worth to Crystal Palace as he scored the only goal of the game away to Plymouth.
In-demand teenager's goal sees off Pilgrims at Home Park
Victor Moses again proved his worth to Crystal Palace as he scored the only goal of the game away to struggling Plymouth Argyle.
Moses has been tipped to leave the Eagles before the close of the transfer window and his departure could hit the club's play-off aspirations.
The in-demand forward struck after 17 minutes at Home Park before Plymouth went closest to an equaliser through Alan Judge in the second half.
The fine form of Moses means Palace are somehow still in the play-off hunt despite their off-field problems - boss Neil Warnock is so short of numbers he was able to name only five substitutes at Home Park.
Warnock would rather keep hold of his young star at least until the end of the season, but if the trip to Plymouth proves to be one of Moses' final games in an Eagles shirt he is saying goodbye in style.
He served notice of his intentions with less than a minute on the clock, finding space on the edge of the Argyle penalty area and firing narrowly over the crossbar.
But the Eagles did not have to wait long to take the lead. In the 17th minute, Moses latched onto Lee Hills' pass inside the box and clipped his shot over home goalkeeper Romain Larrieu and into the net.
Admiring glances
Darren Ambrose, whose 13 goals this season have also attracted admiring glances from elsewhere, came close to doubling Palace's lead but Larrieu managed to tip his clever lob over the crossbar.
Moses could have had a second before the break when he met Nathaniel Clyne's cross with a firm header but Larrieu pulled off a fine save.
Larrieu was quickly back in action at the start of the second half, keeping out a 20-yard effort from Palace's Austrian midfielder Johnny Ertl and a tricky, bouncing drive from left-back Hills.
Ambrose then rifled a free-kick over the bar, but, with conditions rapidly deteriorating as the rain lashed down, both sides struggled to create chances.
Argyle had won their previous two Championship games under Paul Mariner to raise hopes of beating the drop this season.
Their best opportunity came with 20 minutes remaining when Judge got a sight of goal but his shot flew inches wide.
Warnock had by then taken Moses off, but his goal proved enough to secure the victory and keep Palace firmly in the play-off race.
