HEREFORD were dumped out of the Carling Cup at Selhurst Park as they threw away the lead for the second time in four days.

Moses Ashikodi headed Hereford in front four minutes before the break, but goalkeeper Darren Randolph failed to deal with a long-range shot and a cross as United’s second visit of the season to London ended in disappointment.

Hereford boss Graham Turner announced an unchanged team for his side’s first visit to Selhurst Park for 33 years.

Matt Done had the first shot of the evening, a left-foot drive on 16 minutes which was comfortably saved by Darryl Flahavan. Ashikodi then drove a vicious, angled shot just over.

On 31 minutes, Hereford were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out and Robbie Threlfall’s curling effort cleared the bar by inches.

The Bulls took the lead on 41 minutes, when, after a neat move out of defence, Ashikodi nipped in between two defenders to head in Kris Taylor’s cross.

Palace tried to hit back immediately, but Carle sliced his shot badly over from a good position. The same player levelled, however, seconds before half-time when his 20-yard shot went through Randolph’s hands and into the net.

Three minutes after the break, John Oster’s powerfully-struck cross from the right completely deceived Randolph and went into the net off the far post.

United used all three substitutes in a bid to revive their attack but, instead, had to rely on a good Randolph save to keep out Carle’s drive Flahavan almost gifted the Bulls an equaliser when he spilled a Clint Easton cross, only to recover the ball at the second attempt as Bradley Hudson-Odoi closed in.

Hereford: Randolph, Rose, Beckwith, Oji, Threlfall, Johnson (Guinan, 79 min), Diagouraga, Smith, Taylor (Easton, 79 min), Done (Hudson-Odoi, 68 min), Ashikodi. Subs not used: Samson, Breen, Gwynne, MacLeod.

Referee: Trevor Kettle (Rutland).

Attendance: 3,094.