BOSS NEIL STEPS IN TO STOP THE WAR; CHAMPIONSHIP In association with COMMERCIAL VEHICLES BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE.

Byline: By DAVID DULIN

BRISTOL CITY and Neil Warnock's Palace could face an FA rap following a post-match bust-up.

Both teams had to be separated in the tunnel by stewards after City's Michael McIndoe was said to have thrown a water bottle at Nick Carle.

Palace boss Neil Warnock revealed: "I think Mcindoe fancied throwing a bottle at his old friend Nick Carle.

"I tried to get between everybody in the fracas."

But City boss Gary Johnson played down the incident, which was seen by referee Andy Penn.

Johnson said: "There were a few words, but it was just handbags.

"We've got some burly stewards here and nothing got out of hand."

On the pitch, Nicky Maynard took just 90 seconds to bring Crystal Palace's eight-match unbeaten run to an end.

The pounds 2.25million clubrecord signing from Crewe has finally found his goal-scoring touch with six in the last eight.

He took the ball on his chest, turned and on the half-volley sent it into the top left-hand corner.

And Maynard almost doubled the lead when he pushed the ball past keeper Julian Speroni only for it to go wide.

Speroni did well to keep out Stern John from close range, before being beaten by Ivan Sproule who rattled the far post.

The Eagles were more in control after the restart and City keeper Adriano Basso tipped Carle's 20-yard free-kick over.

Basso then pulled off the stop of the game with 15 minutes left. Sub Shefki Kuqi crossed low from the right but Carle was denied by Basso's foot.

Johnson beamed: "We won a big game - and it's always nice to do it against a competitive Crystal Palace side."

Warnock insisted: "I've no complaints at all.

"We gave it a good go in the second half."

CAPTION(S):

PEACE MAKER Warnock tried to stop tunnel fracas