Football: DOUBLE TWIT

WILLIE BOLAND and sub Andy Campbell were sent off as Cardiff became the first team to be beaten by Palace in eight league games.

Boland was dismissed after clashing with man-of-the-match Wayne Routledge and Campbell went just ten minutes after coming on as substitute.

Cardiff manager Lenny Lawrence refused to defend his dismissed players. He said: "I didn't hear screams of protest from Willie, although I did not see it myself. Campbell raised his arms and he was always going to go.

"I can't say the referee was wrong and I strongly suspect he was right. Now we have a problem in a fortnight against Coventry.

"Kavanagh's booking was his fifth of the season, so he will be suspended, and so will Campbell and Boland."

Routledge and Neil Shipperley had put Palace in control before a wonder strike by Graham Kavanagh set the home side's nerve-ends jangling.

Palace had conceded late goals in their previous three matches and despite some anxious moments held out to lift themselves up the table.

After the late defeat at Norwich last weekend, Palace chairman Simon Jordan took manager Steve Kember and the coaching staff into the middle of the pitch for a humiliating discussion about "tactics".

Whatever Jordan's suggestions were they seemed to work. Tommy Black and Routledge gave Rhys Weston and Richard Langley a lot to think about down the Cardiff right. While at the back, Palace's Hayden Mullins relished the challenge of blunting Robert Earnshaw.

After his 14-goal start to the season it is no wonder the Cardiff striker is coming in for special attention and only once did he really manage to breach the home defence but was unable to take advantage.

At the other end, Dougie Freedman and Shipperley were enjoying the fruits of Routledge's labours and Weston was at his best to block one such chance in the first half.

Routledge was a danger when he switched flanks, too, and he was rewarded with a goal just a minute before half time.

A good move looked to have broken down until the ball fell to Danny Butterfield, who played it back across the area and Routledge drilled home inside Neil Alexander's left-hand post.

The interval proved only a brief respite for Cardiff and Palace stretched their lead in the 47th minute. Cardiff gave away possession, Routledge crossed from the right and the visitors' defence was all out of position as Shipperley prodded the ball home.

As Routledge flitted from side to side, Bowland's frustration got the better of him and having scythed down the Palace man, he got involved in an unseemly ruck and was shown the red card by referee Clive Penton.

But Palace then failed to convert several chances and Cardiff managed to pull themselves back into the game.

Kavanagh played a one-two with Earnshaw and drove a blistering shot past Cedric Berthelin, before Campbell then clashed with Shaun Derry and was shown a straight red card ten minutes after coming on as a sub for Bonner.

MAN OF THE MATCH WAYNE ROUTLEDGE

A real handful on both flanks for Palace.

CRYSTAL PALACE: Berthelin 6, Fleming 5, Mullins 8, Powell 7, Black 7 (Borrowdale 5), Derry 6, Hughes 7, Butterfield 7, ROUTLEDGE 9, Freedman 7, Shipperley 7.

CARDIFF: Alexander 6, Weston 6, Bidmar 6, Gabbidon 5, Barker 6, Langley 5, Boland 5, Kavanagh 7, Bonner 6 (Campbell 5), Earnshaw 6, Thorn 6.

MANAGER RATINGS: Kember 7; Lawrence 6.

REFEREE: C Penton 6.

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