Full-time: Conor Sammon has late penalty saved as Derby County are beaten by Crystal Palace

DERBY County suffered their third home league defeat of the season as they were beaten 1-0 by promotion-chasing Crystal Palace at Pride Park Stadium.

Yannick Bolasie's 13th-minute goal proved to be the winner, while Rams striker Conor Sammon had a late penalty saved by visiting keeper Julian Speroni.

Speroni was in inspired form and Derby could count themselves unlucky not to get anything from the game.

On-loan striker Chris Martin was handed his full debut as manager Nigel Clough made three changes to his side following last weekend's 2-1 defeat at Watford.

Martin replaced Michael Jacobs, while Gareth Roberts - back from a three-match ban - and Jake Buxton were recalled in defence, so Ben Davies and Michael Hoganson dropped to the bench.

Adam Legzdins was tested early on by England international Wilfried Zaha, beforwe Stephen Dobbie's low drive was deflected just wide.

Palace took the lead, in slightly fortuitous style, in the 13th minute.

Skipper Mile Jedinak went into a block tackle with Jeff Hendrick inside the visitors' half and the ball flew over the Derby defence and fell into the path of Bolasie, who dribbled around Legzdins before firing home.

Derby looked shell-shocked and they had a let-off three minutes later, when Jedinak's fierce 25-yard drive crashed against the crossbar.

After regaining their composure somewhat, the Rams almost levelled in the 22nd minute.

John Brayford's low cross from the right was sliced up in the air by Kagisho Dikgacoi and Jamie Ward's neat volley was tipped around the post by Speroni.

The hosts began to warm to their task and Ward's cross-shot was beaten away before Martin shot over.

Speroni was being kept busy and produced good saves to deny Craig Bryson and Martin.

Derby were knocking on the door and when Paul Coutts found John Brayford on the right, the full-back beat former Rams defender Dean Moxey only to his rising effort come back off the bar.

The home side suffered a blow just before the break when top scorer Ward limped out of the action, to be replaced by Jacobs.

Bolasie was released by Dobbie in the 44th minute but his goalbound lob over Legzdins was headed off the line by Bryson.

Moments later at the other end, Derby felt they should have had a penalty when Martin was felled by the challenge of Peter Ramage.

Derby continued to press after the interval, with Palace happy to sit back and hit them on the counter attack.

Speroni made another superb stop in the 52nd minute, saving at point blank range from Sammon after neat link-up play from Martin and Jacobs.

Palace substitute Jonny Williams saw his 20-yarder tipped over by Legzdins after a surging run through the middle.

But Derby were creating the better chances - Sammon glancing a header wide from a free kick and Jacobs lashing a volley past the post from Coutts' cross.

Speroni then pushed away a low drive from Brayford after he had exchanged passes with Coutts with 15 minutes to go.

Derby were awarded a penalty in the 87th minute when Damien Delaney was adjudged to have tripped substitute Ben Davies in the area.

But Sammon's spot kick was saved on to the bar by Speroni.

GOALS: Bolasie (13) 0-1.

DERBY COUNTY: Legzdins, Brayford, Keogh, Buxton, Roberts, Coutts (Davies, 84), Bryson, Hendrick, Ward (Jacobs, 42), Sammon, Martin (Bennett, 80). Subs: Fielding (gk), Hoganson, Gjokaj, Doyle.

CRYSTAL PALACE: Speroni, Richards (Williams, 61), Ramage, Delaney, Moxey, Zaha, Dikgacoi, Jedinak, Bolasie (Phillips, 73), Dobbie (Butterfield, 58), Murray. Subs: Price (gk), Parr, Marrow, Wilbraham.

REFEREE: A Madley (West Yorkshire).

ATTENDANCE: 23,065.

BOOKINGS: Derby - Bryson (25) foul on Zaha; Buxton (49) foul on Bolasie. Palace - Jedinak (31) foul on Buxton; Dikgacoi (80) time-wasting; Moxey (86) dissent.