CRYSTAL Palace left Cardiff empty-handed after conceding a pair of second half goals.

The Eagles had managed to frustrate the home side for much of the game, but struggled to create chances in the second half before being undone by two moments of quality from the Bluebirds.

Dougie Freedman selected a defensive team and the midfield trio of David Wright, Mile Jedink and Kagisho Dikgacoi did excellently to break up Cardiff attacks and gain possession, but offered little support to the front three of Sean Scannell, Wilfried Zaha and Glenn Murray.

But with the back four well organised in front of Julian Speroni, Cardiff had to work very hard to make the breakthrough.

The first half was fairly even in terms of chances, as Kenny Miller headed wide with the hosts' first meaningful attack, while Scannell tested Bluebirds keeper Tom Heaton with a shot from the left-hand corner of the area.

Scannell took a Palace corner, finding captain Paddy McCarthy, whose header was flicked just wide of the post by Murray.

Peter Whittingham came close to opening the scoring, as his shot from outside the area slammed against the crossbar, and there were several chances in first half stoppage time.

Zaha's shot from the left-hand edge of the area was comfortably dealt with by Heaton, while at the other end Aaron Gunnarsson shot over from 25 yards and Craig Conway's shot after cutting in from the left wing was saved by Speroni.

Palace were looking comfortable but struggled to create chances after the break.

Cardiff kept the pressure on and should have taken the lead just before the hour mark when Miller managed to beat McCarthy and find himself in a one-on-one with Speroni, only for the Scottish international striker to see his shot saved.

Whittingham hit the side netting from a free-kick shortly afterwards as the home side started to take control.

The deadlock was broken on 69 minutes when Adam Taylor's cross from the left was headed away by Anthony Gardner into the path of Kevin McNaughton, who had surged forward from right back.

McNaughton played the ball to Miller, who swept a shot past Speroni into the bottom left corner of the net - the first goal Palace had conceded for more than 10 hours.

The goal woke up the home supporters, who had been easily outsung by the travelling Palace faithful, and forced Freedman into making some attacking substitutions, as Johnathan Williams replaced Dikgacoi and Jermaine Easter came on for Scannell.

Palace made their final change when Steffen Iversen came on for Wright after Easter had given away a free kick just outside the area.

Seconds after Iversen had come on, the Eagles were 2-0 down as Whittingham sent his free-kick into the top right corner of the net, past the diving Speroni.

It was an unstoppable effort, which left Palace with a mountain to climb.

The Eagles pushed forward, but theit goal drought was extended to three league games as they failed to trouble Heaton before the final whistle.

Despite a disappointing final score, there are plenty of positives for the Eagles to take away from the match.

It weas the only time so far this season they have been beaten by more than one goal and it took two moments of quality to break an otherwise solid and well organised defence.

Despite this loss, the Eagles remain in the play-off places and there is certainly no shame in losing to a team who are now fourth in the table.

The only concern is the lack of goals, as Palace have failed to find the net in the three matches since defeating Southampton in the League Cup.

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Crystal Palace: Speroni, Clyne, Wright (Iversen 80), McCarthy, Gardner, Moxey, Dikgacoi (Williams 71), Jedinak, Scannell (Easter 74), Zaha, Murray. Subs not used: Price, Parr. Att: 22,032.