December 7 2013

Cameron Jerome (Photo: Andy Roberts)

Crystal Palace secured successive victories for the first time this season after seeing off Cardiff City 2-0.

Tony Pulis claimed his second win from his three games in charge as manager to breath fresh life into Palace's bid for survival.

The Welsh side could have gone ahead in just the second minute when Frazier Campbell's downward header from Don Cowie's cross was palmed over by Julian Speroni.

But four minutes later it was Palace who got their noses in front through Cameron Jerome for his maiden Eagles goal. Jason Puncheon did brilliantly to whip in a cross from the right byline and the former Stoke man headed in from close range.

Dean Moxey went off with an injury in the 25th minute with Adrian Mariappa coming in at right back while Joel Ward moved over the the left.

Palace continued in search of another with Jerome and Puncheon looking lively as Pulis's men went into the break a goal up.

Puncheon drilled wide of the goal, and as Cardiff pushed forward for an equaliser, Palace hit them on the break with David Marshall saving well from Jerome.

On 57 minutes, the home team's pressure paid off with another goal as Ben Turner's weak header fell to Marouane Chamakh who fired into the bottom right corner for his third of the season.

Jerome, who was a constant threat all day, had a shot deflected wide. And from the resulting corner, the striker almost diverted the ball home but Marshall just about stopped the it from crossing the goal line.

Damien Delaney nodded a corner just over the bar, while Jerome blasted a good opportunity just off target.

While at the end, Turner almost put Puncheon's cross from the left into his own net put luckily for him scooped it over the bar.

This well deserved victory keeps Palace in the relegation zone but now it's only on goal difference.

Palace: Speroni, Ward, Gabbidon, Delaney, Moxey (Mariappa 25), Puncheon, Dikgacoi, Jedinak, Bannan (O'Keefe 84), Chamakh, Jerome.

Not used: Price, Phillips, Gayle, Williams, Kebe.

Cardiff City: Marshall, Theophile-Catherine, Caulker, Turner, Cowie (Noone 46), Medel, Whittingham, Bo-Kyung (Odemwingie 60), Mutch, Campbell (Cornelius 68).

Not used: Lewis, Connolly, Hudson, Gunnarsson.

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