Aki Riihilahti marked his first start since September with the goal that gave 10-man Crystal Palace a crucial victory over Coca-Cola Championship play-off rivals Cardiff.

The Finland midfielder - who has struggled all season with injury - was on hand to score the winner after fantastic work from Andrew Johnson midway through the second half.

Palace defender Fitz Hall was later sent off following an off-the-ball incident involving Joe Ledley, but the home side hung on.

Although Cardiff - who are now seven points behind Palace in the Coca-Cola Championship - had a Cameron Jerome goal disallowed in the first half, they paid the price for a defensive strategy that left their talented young forward with insufficient support in attack.

The visitors had made a tidy start, but had referee Tony Bates to thank for not awarding Palace a penalty after only five minutes.

The lively Jobi McAnuff - whom Palace signed from Cardiff in the summer - sent Johnson clear with a perfectly-weighted pass, and although the England striker went to ground under a challenge from Chris Barker, Bates ruled the Bluebirds' left-back had played the ball.

McAnuff should have given his team the lead eight minutes later. The recalled Dougie Freedman beat goalkeeper Neil Alexander to the ball near the goal-line and turned it back into the centre, where Johnson failed to make contact and McAnuff crashed it against the bar from six yards with Alexander stranded.

To complete Palace's frustration, Michael Hughes fired the rebound wide.

The home side enjoyed a let-off themselves in the 27th minute, when Cardiff's 16-goal striker Jerome collected a through-ball from Jason Koumas and drilled it pass Gabor Kiraly from 18 yards - only for the goal to be disallowed for a foul by Jerome on Hall during the build-up.

Eight minutes before the break, Kiraly failed to hold Kevin Cooper's 18-yard effort after Hall had given away possession, and Palace were rescued only by the alert Emmerson Boyce, whose excellent challenge prevented Ledley from netting the loose ball.

The early part of the second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with Palace enjoying most of the possession and Cardiff happy to play on the break.

The home side's pressure finally paid off in the 69th minute. After Hughes' free-kick had fallen to him, Johnson burst past three Cardiff defenders and cut the ball back for Riihilahti to tap in from six yards.

Eight minutes from time, Hall was dismissed - seemingly for an altercation with Ledley off the ball - but Cardiff failed to take advantage.

Teams:

Crystal Palace Kiraly, Ward, Boyce, Fitz Hall, Hughes,Riihilahti, Leigertwood, McAnuff (Borrowdale 83),Reich (Watson 86), Johnson (Morrison 90), Freedman.

Subs Not Used: Macken, Speroni.

Sent Off: Fitz Hall (82).

Goals: Riihilahti 70.

Cardiff Alexander, Barker (Darlington 89), Purse, Cox,Scimeca, Ardley, Koumas, Boland (Ndumbu-Nsungu 83), Ledley,Cooper, Jerome.

Subs Not Used: Whitley, Thompson, Margetson.

Booked: Koumas.

Att: 17,962

Ref: A Bates (Staffordshire).