The Republic of Ireland international crashed home the all-important strike after some good link-up play with Raul Jimenez to extend Roy Hodgson’s team’s wait for a home point, or even a goal, this season.
After falling behind Palace came closest to equalising when Rui Patricio made an excellent double save to deny Max Meyer and Jeffrey Schlupp, but Nuno Espirito Santo’s team would ultimately continue their fine start to the campaign.
The Eagles spent the first 20 minutes camped inside the Wolves half but were unable to carve out a decent sight of goal as a resolute defence soaked up all the pressure, but the first real chance came when the visitors sprung a counter-attack and Diego Jota fed Jimenez, however the Mexican screwed wide.
Two minutes later the same two players combined to create a better chance for Jimenez as he sprung the Eagles’ offside trap, but former Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessey raced off his line and made himself big to palm the ball away for a corner.
Chances were few and far between for Hodgson’s team in the opening 45, with Schlupp blasting over after a corner was cleared into his path, and then a Luka Milivojevic free-kick from 30 yards forced Patricio into his first save of the afternoon, albeit a comfortable one.
After the restart Palace were given an early warning when Ruben Neves fired into the Whitehorse Lane Stand, but it failed to be heeded as on 56 minutes the visitors got themselves in front.
Doherty found himself with the ball on the edge of the Eagles box and found Jimenez inside the area who held the ball up nicely, and was allowed to return it to the wing-back who drilled the ball past Hennessey at his near post to open the scoring.
Suddenly chasing the game, Palace began to create more opportunities and Jordan Ayew headed over from a corner before Andros Townsend flashed a shot over the top from fully 35 yards, and then on 69 minutes only a superb double save by Patricio prevented an equaliser.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka slipped in Townsend inside the area who stood the ball up perfectly to the edge of the area for substitute Meyer to race onto, and he connected brilliantly with a volley which flashed towards the bottom corner but the Wolves stopper was equal to it, and then sprung back to his feet to also deny Schlupp from close range.
The hosts’ best chances kept falling to the Ghanaian who saw a shot blocked in the area following a Townsend free-kick, but they received a stroke of luck with 10 minutes to go when a deflected pass allowed Ivan Cavaleiro the chance to smash a shot at goal which wrapped off the crossbar.
Despite some late pressure, Palace couldn’t trouble Patricio again and the visitors were left to celebrate extending their unbeaten run to six matches.
Palace: Hennessey, Wan-Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, Van Aanholt, Schlupp (Sørloth 82), McArthur (Meyer 62), Milivojevic, Townsend, Zaha, Ayew (Kouyaté 72). Subs not used: Guaita, Ward, Kelly, Puncheon.
Wolves: Patricio, Bennett, Coady, Bolly, Doherty, Moutinho, Neves, Jonny, Jota (Traore 87), Costa (Saiss 84), Jimenez (Cavaleiro 75). Subs not used: Ruddy, Hause, Gibbs-White, Bonatini.