Heroics from Crystal Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni saw Cardiff's long wait for a Coca-Cola Championship victory win continue.

Speroni tipped substitute Aaron Ramsey's strike onto the post late on, and did brilliantly to flick Paul Parry's header around his upright in the first half, as Dave Jones' side wasted a hatful of chances.

The Bluebirds, without a league win in February but with a mouth-watering FA Cup tie with Middlesbrough looming on Sunday, outclassed a largely toothless Palace, though the Eagles did improve when substitutes Sean Scannell and Dougie Freedman came on.

A much-changed Cardiff side appeared to have been given the hurry-up manager Dave Jones had promised, with the visitors starting with real intent.

Speroni was relieved to see Peter Whittingham's clipped shot from Riccardo Scimeca's clever cut-back graze his left-hand post after just two minutes.

More perseverance from Scimeca set up Parry five minutes later, but his shot curled over.

Parry then forced a poor clearance from Eagles skipper Mark Hudson, but Roger Johnson's follow-up was well-blocked by Clint Hill.

Palace's defence looked statuesque as Trevor Sinclair and Scimeca engaged in a lofted one-two, but the former England midfielder's guided shot fell just wide after 12 minutes.

Palace's first opportunity fell to their most potent outlet, but top-scorer Clinton Morrison could only guide Carl Fletcher's high cross over the crossbar.

Scowcroft, restored to the bench after a one-match ban, was introduced earlier than intended when Paul Ifill was subsituted after 29 minutes with what is thought to have been a recurrence of his hamstring injury.

Speroni did well to tip Parry's downward header around the post after 32 minutes as the Bluebirds upped the ante.

His opposite number Peter Enckelman hardly had a save to make, but he was forced to punch out Watson's teasing cross six minutes later.

Victor Moses was inches away from giving Crystal Palace a scarcely deserved lead in a first half dominated by Cardiff.

The young striker, making his home debut, was preferred in attack to James Scowcroft and Dougie Freedman, but Ben Watson's 40th-minute cross just eluded him.

Cardiff emerged every bit as bright after the break, and Steven Thompson was almost gifted a bizarre goal when Hudson's header hit Hill, but it ricocheted too quickly for Thompson to head accurately.

Parry did well to chest down Whittingham's whipped flick, but his left-foot shot went wide of Speroni's left post after 56 minutes.

Hudson made another vital interception with Thompson lurking at the back post.

Buthe chance of the half was created and spurned by Kevin McNaughton. The Bluebirds right-back ploughed his way past three Palace players and into the box, but he failed to hold his nerve and blasted over with the goal gaping.

The game was increasingly open by the hour, and Fletcher should have done better from Shaun Derry's through-ball.

Eagles boss Neil Warnock gambled with two more attacking replacements, Freedman and Scannell.

Republic of Ireland youngster Scannell almost had an immediate impact, but his shot at Enckelman was tame.

Ramsey was denied by a combination of Speroni and the woodwork, as the Argentinian tipped his long-range shot onto the post.

From the ensuing clearance Scannell was set free, but his decision to shoot instead of feed Scowcroft looked foolish when he shot over.

The chance Palace had been waiting for fell to an unchallenged Morrison after 77 minutes, but his header was misdirected over the crossbar.

Teams:

Crystal Palace Speroni, Butterfield, Lawrence, Hudson, Hill, Ifill (Scowcroft 26), Fletcher (Freedman 63), Watson, Derry, Morrison, Moses (Scannell 62).

Subs Not Used: Soares, Hills.

Cardiff Enckelman, McNaughton, Loovens, Johnson, Capaldi, Sinclair (Ramsey 71), Scimeca (Rae 64), McPhail, Whittingham,Parry, Thompson.

Subs Not Used: Oakes, Purse, Hasselbaink.

Att: 13,446

Ref: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire).