CRYSTAL Palace picked up their first away win for nearly four months with a 1-0 win at Derby County tonight.
Eagles winger Yannick Bolasie got the winner after just 13 minutes when he went around Rams goalkeeper Adam Legzdins and slammed the ball home from close range.
And they nearly doubled their lead moments later when skipper Mile Jedinak struck the crossbar from the edge of the box.
However, Palace had to thank goalkeeper Julian Speroni for a number of fine saves to keep them in the game, but the Argentine kept the best until the end when he saved an 87th-minute penalty from Connor Sammon by deflecting the ball onto the crossbar.
Derby midfielder John Brayford also struck the crossbar in the first half, while Bolasie nearly grabbed his second of the match when he saw an effort cleared off the line by Craig Bryson.
With second-placed Watford held to a 1-1 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers, it was vital Ian Holloway's men picked up all three points to stay in the hunt for automatic promotion - and they are now just two points behind the Hornets.
But a huge thanks will go to stopper Speroni for his spot-kick save, which could prove to be a vital moment in the Eagles' promotion charge.
Palace return to Selhurst Park on Tuesday in what could arguably be one of their biggest games of the season against Hull City (8pm).
Palace: Speroni, Richards (Williams 61), Ramage, Delaney, Moxey, Bolasie (Phillips 73), Dikgacoi, Jedinak, Dobbie (Butterfield 58), Zaha, Murray.
Subs Not Used: Price, Parr, Marrow, Wilbraham.
Attendance: 23,065 (993 Palace fans)
By Croydon Advertiser Sports Reporter Mark Ritson
Eagles winger Yannick Bolasie got the winner after just 13 minutes when he went around Rams goalkeeper Adam Legzdins and slammed the ball home from close range.
And they nearly doubled their lead moments later when skipper Mile Jedinak struck the crossbar from the edge of the box.
However, Palace had to thank goalkeeper Julian Speroni for a number of fine saves to keep them in the game, but the Argentine kept the best until the end when he saved an 87th-minute penalty from Connor Sammon by deflecting the ball onto the crossbar.
Derby midfielder John Brayford also struck the crossbar in the first half, while Bolasie nearly grabbed his second of the match when he saw an effort cleared off the line by Craig Bryson.
With second-placed Watford held to a 1-1 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers, it was vital Ian Holloway's men picked up all three points to stay in the hunt for automatic promotion - and they are now just two points behind the Hornets.
But a huge thanks will go to stopper Speroni for his spot-kick save, which could prove to be a vital moment in the Eagles' promotion charge.
Palace return to Selhurst Park on Tuesday in what could arguably be one of their biggest games of the season against Hull City (8pm).
Palace: Speroni, Richards (Williams 61), Ramage, Delaney, Moxey, Bolasie (Phillips 73), Dikgacoi, Jedinak, Dobbie (Butterfield 58), Zaha, Murray.
Subs Not Used: Price, Parr, Marrow, Wilbraham.
Attendance: 23,065 (993 Palace fans)
By Croydon Advertiser Sports Reporter Mark Ritson