Palace went into their visit to South Wales looking to build on the victory at Coventry seven days ago against a Cardiff side who have lost their last two.

The team sheets saw a first appearance in goal for Darryl Flahaven in Palace colours in an otherwise unchanged side. David Jones welcomed Michael Chopra back to Ninian Park since his move from the north East and also included ex Eagles midfielder Mark Kennedy in his starting eleven.

The Palace back line were the busiest of the two defences in the opening period of the game and blocked clearances by Jose Fonte and Paddy Mc Carthy were closely followed up by a close range header from Darren Purse  going just over the bar marked a bright start for the home side.  

Palace's first effort on goal very nearly gave them the advantage after a foul on John Oster. It was a Ben Watson free kick from outside the box which curled just inches wide of Tom Heaton's right hand post.

At the other end that the breakthrough came and it was from the spot as the official, Jon Moss, adjudged that Fonte had felled Chopra. The same player got up and his return to the club made no mistake as he put the ball into the net to Flahaven's left.

Palace were not long in getting back on level terms though as a long ball from the 'keeper was met by Paul Ifill and his shot was blocked by the 'keeper but Sean Scannell was following up and put the loose ball into the corner of the net to give his side the equaliser.

As the game went on the visitors came more into the match and the winger had another chance to add to his earlier goal but the curling shot went wide of the post.

A couple of minutes of added time came and went with no further chances to either side and the sides went in level at the break.

After finishing the first period strong it was the worst possible start for the visitors as Joe Ledley regained the lead for the home side. He had been receiving treatment and got back up to receive the ball from a Johnson header and made no mistake converting the chance past Flahavan just seven minutes into the half.

A change was soon made from the bench as Shefki Kuqi was introduced to the game at the expense of Beattie just past the hour mark.

He was soon involved as he had a header chance collected by Heaton and then his right foot shot from just inside the box beat the 'keeper but went just wide of the target.  

With just under twenty minutes remaining Neil Warnock made a further change as Victor Moses came on for Oster.

Palace had the luck on their side when a Paui Parry drive towards goal was deflected off McCarthy, but with the 'keeper already commited, the ball went wide for a city corner with ten minutes remaining.

The visitors kept pushing for another equaliser and a chance fell to Ifill after a corner was only half cleared but his effort went wide of the post. This was soon followed by a chance for Shaun Derry but the effort went over the bar after he picked up the loose ball from a Watson free kick.

Four minutes of added time saw Sean Scannell in a good position but his effort was held by Heaton before a late dismissal at the other end.

Matt Lawrence seemed very unfortunate to be shown red as the official once again pointed to the spot when he felt the defender had fouled Eddie Johnson. Chopra once again took the kick but this time Flahavan made an excellent save low to his right to deny the ninian park favourite.

That was to be the last action of the match as the final seconds of that added time was played out and Palace travelled back up the M4 on the wrong end of a narrow defeat against a side who had only lost three other championship encounters before this game in 08/09.

Teams:

Cardiff Heaton, McNaughton, Purse, Roger Johnson, Kennedy, Rae (Blake 80), Whittingham (Parry 70), McPhail, Ledley, Eddie Johnson, Chopra.

Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Gyepes, Brown.

Booked: Whittingham.

Crystal Palace Flahavan, Lawrence, Hill, McCarthy, Fonte, Derry, Ifill, Watson, Oster (Moses 71), Scannell, Beattie (Kuqi 62).

Subs Not Used: Carle, Ertl, Wiggins.

Sent Off: Lawrence (90).

Att: 17,478     Referee : Jon Moss (W Yorkshire).