Ross McCormack scored either side of the interval as Cardiff claimed victory away to Crystal Palace.
Palace beaten in heated affair at Selhurst Park
Ross McCormack scored either side of the interval as Cardiff continued their promotion push with victory away to Crystal Palace.
The Scotland international grabbed his first from the spot after Nathanial Clyne bundled Joe Ledley over in the area, sending Julian Speroni the wrong way.
Bluebirds defender Roger Johnson was forced off after a challenge from Claude Davis which saw Dave Jones approach the Palace man at the interval, with the Cardiff boss and Eagles counterpart Neil Warnock then sent to the stands.
Both sides battled in the second half but McCormack made the game safe in injury time when he turned Davis and smashed home his 21st goal of the season.
Palace defender Paddy McCarthy returned after three months out with a shoulder injury while Clyne, Clint Hill, Rui Fonte and Nick Carle also came into the side.
Cardiff manager Jones made one change from the 4-1 rout of Derby as skipper Ledley returned to the starting line-up with Peter Whittingham dropping to the bench.
The visitors made a bright start and Michael Chopra had the ball in the back of the net after only three minutes but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Minutes later Chopra rolled a free-kick into the path of Jay Bothroyd and his shot went through the wall but Speroni made a good save with his feet.
Behind
Palace began to come into the game but they were behind with 22 minutes gone when Clyne brought down Ledley in the area and McCormack stroked home the resulting penalty.
The Eagles responded well and Victor Moses had a shot blocked before the ball came back to Shefki Kuqi in the box but the Finn dragged his shot wide.
Cardiff lost both Chopra and Johnson to injury before half-time but were able to hold onto their lead.
Davis did appear to catch Johnson in the neck and neither Jones nor Warnock returned to their dugouts after the break following the half-time row.
The drama did not stop once the action resumed and Rui Fonte was brought down inside the area but this time Booth waved play on to the annoyance of the Palace fans.
Cardiff almost compounded Palace's misery moments later when McCormack's free-kick found Ledley but he drove wide from six yards when he should have done better.
The game turned into somewhat of a war of attrition with both sides cancelling each other out with Rui Fonte and Carle off target with efforts from distance.
Palace pressed for an equaliser but were finished off in injury-time by the superb McCormack who cut inside Davis and drove an excellent left-foot shot across Speroni.
