Cardiff 1-0 Crystal Palace

Michael Ricketts celebrates his winner with Jason Koumas

Michael Ricketts scored his second goal in as many games to give Cardiff their second successive one-goal home win.

Cardiff dominated the early exchanges and on-loan Ricketts converted a simple chance on 26 minutes after an awful fumble from Palace keeper Gabor Kiraly.

Cameron Jerome then missed the target from close range before Ben Watson blazed over Palace's first effort.

Wayne Andrews and Tom Soares spurned chances to haul the visitors level as Cardiff lived dangerously at the end.

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Cardiff boss Dave Jones:
"Michael Ricketts is a different player now from when he arrived because he is playing football and scoring goals and I know he will get even better.

"He is forging a good partnership with Cameron (Jerome) and getting the winner in our last two games can only improve his confidence.

"I think we were the better side for two thirds of the game."

Crystal Palace boss Iain Dowie:
"We had plenty of possession but never hurt them, though how we haven't got anything from the game I don't know.

"I wasn't happy with our first-half performance but our display after the break was spot on, apart from not getting the goal we deserved.

"We have to make sure we hang on in there but there are a lot of positives to be taken out of this game."

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Cardiff: Alexander, Weston, Purse, Loovens, Barker, Cooper (Parry 80), Whitley, Ledley, Koumas, Jerome, Ricketts.
Subs Not Used: Cox, Ardley, Lee, Margetson.

Booked: Whitley.

Goals: Ricketts 26.

Crystal Palace: Kiraly, Butterfield, Fitz Hall, Ward, Borrowdale (Hudson 88), Watson, Riihilahti (McAnuff 59), Hughes, Soares, Macken (Andrews 76), Morrison.
Subs Not Used: Speroni, Togwell.

Booked: Soares, Morrison, Fitz Hall, Watson.

Att: 11,647

Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire).