THE biggest news in terms of team selection was the return to the starting line-up of Aki Riihilahti and Marco Reich, both of whom had been sidelined for a number of weeks with injury.
The re-introduction of the two midfielders saw a switch to full-back for Mikele Leigertwood, which in turn meant Fitz Hall reverted to his more natural position of centre half.
The only other change from the midweek defeat at Preston saw Dougie Freedman restored to the line-up at the expense of Clinton Morrison.
Dave Jones sprung a surprise of his own by leaving Steven Thompson on the bench and naming just one striker in his line-up in the form of Cameron Jerome, currently the league's leading scorer.
Palace's frontman Andy Johnson was soon in the thick of the action, collecting Jobi McAnuff's precision pass in stride before bearing down on goal, only to be seemingly hauled down by Cardiff left-back Chris Barker.
A penalty kick seemed to be an inevitability, but Mr Bates instead chose - inexplicably - to award a corner.
Five minutes later Palace won another corner when Boyce's inviting cross was turned away by Neal Ardley, but as with the first it came to nought. The same fate befell Reich's blocked shot moments later.
Palace were piling on the pressure now, and after Johnson had completely missed his kick McAnuff's follow-up effort was somehow blocked.
On the quarter hour mark McAnuff again tried his luck, only to see his shot sail harmlessly over Neil Alexander's goal.
Johnson's effort from similar range on 25 minutes did test the Cardiff custodian, but he was equal to the task.
At the other end Jerome, hitherto anonymous, sparked into life with a thunderous shot which flew past Kiraly. To the relief of the Selhurst faithful, however, the referee pulled play back for an earlier infringement by the Cardiff hitman.
The net also rippled at the other end on 35 minutes, but sadly for the Eagles following it was the side netting as Johnson miscued again.
As the end-to-end action continued Boyce made a last-ditch tackle after Kiraly had pushed Joe Ledley's shot into the path of an oncoming attacker.
That was the last act of note in a first half which had promised much but largely failed to deliver.
The second half started brightly, and with Palace again on top. Freedman had the chance to pick out his man after he was released by McAnuff's through ball, but the Scotsman only found Alexander in the Cardiff nets.
Another "goal", this time in Palace's favour, was ruled out in the 62nd minute, when Johnson was adjudged to have been in an offside position.
A minute later Cardiff registered their first shot of the second period through Jason Koumas, who was having a reasonably quiet game in the Bluebirds midfield by his own elevated standards.
Then in the 67th minute the momentPalace fans feared might never arrive finally materialised as the deadlock was broken by Riihilahti.
Johnson yet again proved he is much more than just a goalscorer with a jinking run and cross down the right, leaving the Finn with the simplest of tasks to register his first league goal of the season.
Dave Jones responded by throwing another forward into the fray in the form of Thompson, who made an immediate impact with a rampaging run which was finally halted - fairly, in the referee's opinion - by a combination of Hall and Boyce.
Then in the 80th minute disaster struck as Hall, to general besumement, received a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident picked up by the linesman on the near side.
Iain Dowie immediately moved to shore up his defence by introducing Gary Borrowdale at the expense of McAnuff, who was roundly applauded by both sets of fans.
The last ten minutes were thus a case of holding what we have, but Palace managed to repel Cardiff's late charge and so get their league campaign back on track.
The victory extended the gap between the Eagles and Bluebirds to a more comfortable seven points.
Line-ups:
Palace (4-4-2): Kiraly; Boyce, Ward, Hall, Leigertwood; McAnuff (Borrowdale 80), Hughes, Riihilahti, Reich (Watson 85); Johnson (Morrison 90), Freedman.
Subs (not used): Macken, Speroni.
Scorers: Riihilahti.
Sent off: Hall.
Cardiff (4-5-1): Alexander; Ardley, Purse, Cox, Barker; Cooper (Thompson 68), Koumas, Scimeca, Boland (Ndumbu-Nsungu 82); Ledley; Jerome.
Subs (not used): Darlington, Whitley, Margetson, Ndumbu-Nsungu.
Scorers:
Booked:
Referee: Mr A Bates
Attendance: 17,962.
