Following a run of six games without a win, and with the club in both administration and the relegation zone, Palace were scrapping for their lives towards the end of March.
A 3-1 win over Watford, and a hard-fought draw at play-off chasing Middlesbrough at the start of Easter weekend, reignited hopes of remaining in the Championship.
Yet Palace remained third-from-bottom and in desperate need of wins heading into their final five games of the season.
Then came Easter Monday 2010, and with it Preston North End – and hopes at Selhurst Park were arisen.
Aware that a win could take them out of the relegation zone, Palace started with real intent, Stern John, Sean Scannell and current assistant manager Paddy McCarthy all going close in the opening minutes – the latter having a thumping header cleared off the line.
Teams of lesser spirits might have folded when, moments later, Preston broke, Paul Coutts playing in Keith Treacy to slide the ball beneath Julian Speroni with eight minutes gone.
But Paul Hart’s Palace were no ordinary side.