Crystal Palace secured their fourth successive league win as late strikes by Jobi McAnuff and Andrew Johnson proved enough to see off stubborn Leicester at Selhurst Park.

It looked as if Palace, who had already beaten Ipswich, Derby and Watford over the Christmas period, would have to settle for a point when star striker Johnson saw his penalty saved by Foxes goalkeeper Robert Douglas.

But McAnuff spared his team-mate's blushes by netting three minutes later and Johnson added a neat second in stoppage time to keep the upwardly mobile hosts firmly ensconced in the play-off positions.

Leicester started well, with midfielder Stephen Hughes having the game's first effort in the fifth minute, but it flew wide of the post from 25 yards.

Hughes' midfield partner Joey Gudjonsson then fired wide from a similar distance before Palace striker Clinton Morrison almost opened the scoring at the other end.

Johnson was the provider for Morrison, whose sidefooted shot from six yards was parried away by Douglas.

Leicester remained marginally the more impressive side and forward Iain Hume came close to finding the back of the net when his header from a Hughes cross drifted just wide of the upright.

The final 15 minutes of the half belonged to the home side, however.

Johnson, a livewire throughout the opening 45 minutes, saw his drilled, goalbound effort from 12 yards strike Leicester defender Patrick McCarthy before Mikele Leigertwood shot wide from 25 yards.

The visitors were hanging on and they were glad to see defender Fitz Hall volley wide from six yards with the goal at his mercy.

Douglas then produced smart saves to deny two Ben Watson 30-yarders either side of the half-time break.

Leicester, having ridden their luck, managed to stem the tide and engineered a chance of their own on the hour mark.

A cross was flighted into the centre of the penalty area and Elvis Hammond could only head the ball over from six yards out.

Unlike the first 45 minutes, the second half was devoid of genuine clear-cut opportunities.

Palace looked to be the team more likely to grab the winner though and after McAnuff had a shot blocked by Mark de Vries in the 70th minute, Hall headed the resulting corner by Watson over the bar.

The home side should have opened the scoring six minutes later when they were awarded a penalty after McCarthy was adjudged to have blocked a Dougie Freedman shot with his hand.

But Douglas guessed the right way and kept out Johnson's powerful spot-kick.

Palace were not to be denied, however, and following good work by Freedman on the right, McAnuff arrived in the area to sweep a left-footed shot into the corner from 12 yards.

Johnson added gloss to the scoreline in injury time when he rammed home from 18 yards after Leigertwood had squared the ball back across the area.

Teams

Crystal Palace Kiraly, Fitz Hall, Ward, Popovic, Boyce, McAnuff, Watson (Hughes 77), Leigertwood, Soares (Andrews 71), Morrison (Freedman 59), Johnson.

Subs Not Used: Hudson, Speroni.

Goals: McAnuff 78, Johnson 90.

Leicester Douglas, Maybury, McCarthy, Dublin, Stearman, Kisnorbo (O'Grady 82), Gudjonsson, Hughes, Tiatto (Smith 13), Hume (de Vries 54), Hammond.

Subs Not Used: Henderson, Johansson.

Booked: Kisnorbo, Smith, Gudjonsson, Dublin.

Att: 20,089

Ref: C Penton (Sussex).