CRYSTAL Palace secured another victory thanks to a 2-0 win over Cardiff City this afternoon in front of a rocking Selhurst Park.
Strike duo Cameron Jerome and Marouane Chamakh did the business for the Eagles in either half as Tony Pulis' men dominated this contest from start to finish in SE25.
The victory moves them on to 13 points, just one place away from climbing out of the relegation zone due to West Ham's better goal difference.
It was an unchanged starting line-up for Palace as they looked to continue their momentum from Tuesday's 1-0 win over the Hammers.
However, it could have been first blood to the visitors after just 90 seconds when Julian Speroni's instinctive save foiled Frazier Campbell from close range.
Barry Bannan whipped in a dangerous free-kick for the Eagles, which flew past the back post, and then Cameron Jerome found himself bearing down on goal but was thwarted by a last-ditch interception.
A minute later, he was denied again when collecting a pass inside the box as the ball failed to sit upo nicely for him, but from the clearance, he made amends by giving Palace the lead.
Getting in front of his marker, he rose superbly to send a powerful header past David Marshall from Jason Puncheon's pinpoint cross to send Selhurst into frenzy.
Tony Pulis' men cranked up the pressure as they forced Cardiff back, going close further with efforts from Bannan in particular.
But they were dealt a blow on 25 minutes as Dean Moxey was forced off through what appeared to be an injury, and he was replaced by Adrian Mariappa, who went in at right-back and Joel Ward to left.
Despite Palace's dominance for the rest of the half, there weren't many further chances for the hosts as Cardiff struggled to get out of their half.
Jason Puncheon tried his luck with a shot from outside the box in the second half after good work involving Marouane Chamakh, while Cardiff forced two early corners.
Bannan nearly wriggled his way through the Cardiff defence after receiving a oass from Jerome, while the diminutive midfielder curled in a free-kick to Chamakh, who looked to head across goal but it went out for a goal kick.
Jerome continued to pose a threat, and he forced a good save around the post from Marshall after running at the Cardiff defence.
However, they doubled their lead soon after thanks to Tuesday night's matchwinner Marouane Chamakh, who let the ball sit up for him nicely before sending a volley into the bottom corner in front of the Holmesdale Stand.
It was very nearly three on 70 minutes when Bannan whipped in a corner, the ball was headed on towards an unmarked Jerome, who headed towards goal, and Marshall pulled off a great save on the line.
It looked as if the ball may have just crept in, but the referee received no indication from goal-line technology Hawk-Eye.
Jerome was very unlucky again when a ball in from Bannan found the big striker ten yards out, but his effort went inches past the post, before Puncheon fizzed in a low shot which Marshall got down to soon after.
And Puncheon went very close to helping Palace grab a third when he drilled a ball across goal and Cardiff defender Ben Turner deflected the ball inches over the crossbar.
Cardiff failed to threaten the Eagles in the four added-on minutes, and now they're up to 18th in the Premier League on 13 points. Just West Ham sit above them out of the relegation zone on goal difference.
Next up? A trip to Chelsea next Saturday.
Palace: Speroni, Ward, Gabbidon, Delaney, Moxey (Mariappa ), Dikgacoi, Jedinak, Bannan (O'Keefe 84), Puncheon, Chamakh, Jerome.
Subs Not Used: Price, Kebe, Williams, Phillips, Gayle.
By Croydon Advertiser Sports Reporter Mark Ritson
