Crystal Palace kept their play-off hopes alive with a priceless victory
against Cardiff, whose own promotion hopes suffered a severe setback.
Andy Johnson fired his 26th goal of the season to put Palace in front 10
minutes after the restart and Wayne Routledge secured the win three minutes from
time moments after Cardiff defender Tony Vidmar was sent off.
Palace's 10th away victory of the season meant they leapfrogged the Welshman
to go 10th in the table and kept the pressure on Millwall and Ipswich.
Both managers kept faith with the sides which played in midweek, and it was
Palace who forced the first attempt on goal after seven minutes, but Aki
Riihilahti's long-range effort failed to test home goalkeeper Martyn Margetson.
The first clear-cut chance fell to the Bluebirds after 13 minutes as Richard
Langley swung in a corner - only for Vidmar to head over the bar at the near
post.
Midfielder Langley forced the first save of the game after 27 minutes with a
25-yard drive which Nico Vaesen did well to push round the post for a corner.
Palace boss Iain Dowie was forced into making a change one minute later as
Neil Shipperley, who scored the winner against Rotherham on Tuesday, came off
injured and was replaced by Dougie Freedman.
Vaesen was called into action again as he kept out Danny Gabbidon's header
from a Gareth Whalley corner approaching the half-hour mark.
The half came to life in the final five minutes as Earnshaw forced Vaesen into
making a fine save in between City duo Alan Lee and Vidmar receiving yellow
cards for respective fouls on Tony Popovic and Michael Hughes.
Palace created their best chance as the half-time whistle approached as
Routledge's shot was blocked by Langley and Danny Butterfield fired the rebound
wide.
In-form Cardiff, who had picked up 10 points from their last four games,
carved open the first chance of the second half through Wales international
Robert Earnshaw, who fired just wide of the left-hand post.
But the hosts found themselves trailing as Johnson put Palace ahead in the
55th minute.
Julian Gray, who spent two months at Cardiff earlier in the season, supplied
the cross from the left and Johnson made no mistake from close range in the 55th
minute.
Gabbidon volleyed Whalley's corner over the bar 10 minutes from time as the
Bluebirds pressed for the equaliser.
But their hopes disappeared in the space of two minutes as Vidmar received his
marching orders for a second yellow card (85) and Routledge sealed the win by
firing home Johnson's through-ball three minutes from time.
Teams
Cardiff: Margetson, Vidmar, Gabbidon, Collins, Croft, Langley,
Whalley, Robinson (Bullock 74), Parry (Campbell 58),
Lee (Gordon 74), Earnshaw.
Subs Not Used: Barker, Alexander.
Sent Off: Vidmar (85).
Booked: Lee, Vidmar, Campbell, Collins.
Crystal Palace: Vaesen, Butterfield, Hudson, Popovic,
Granville, Hughes (Derry 89), Routledge,
Riihilahti (Leigertwood 89), Gray, Shipperley (Freedman 28),
Johnson.
Subs Not Used: Black, Berthelin.
Booked: Granville, Hughes.
Goals: Johnson 55, Routledge 87.
Att: 16,656
Ref: T Parkes (W Midlands).
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