CARDIFF CITY 2 v 1 CRYSTAL PALACE

Welcome to this afternoon's game at a cold and damp Ninian Park.

Neil Warnock makes one change to the side that beat Coventry last week with Darryl Flahavan making his league debut in goal after Julian Speroni failed a late fitness test on his leg.

Ex-Eagle Mark Kennedy starts at left back for Cardiff.

2 min: Eddie Johnson fails to capitalise after Oster gives the ball away in the middle of the park and then McCarthy makes a good block from Chopra.

6 min: Flahavan gets his first touch of the ball taking a goal kick. In his last appearance for Palace the Eagles conceded four against Leeds - let's hope he has a better day today.

9 min: McCarthy loses Purse briefly from a Whittingham corner but gets enough of a challenge in to force the defender to head over.

10 min: That'll do Flahavan good as he comfortably holds a fierce Whittingham drive from distance as Cardiff break quickly.

14 min: You can see why Cardiff are doing well this year, they are well organised and have a lot of pace. Palace haven't quite been at the races yet, losing the ball too often as they try to go forward.

17 min: Scannell does well down the right as he cuts inside Kennedy but a fantastic tackle from Roger Johnson on the edge of the box stops in his tracks. He should get a lot of joy against Kennedy down there though with his pace.

20 min: Palace playing a little better now. By the way Rhoys Wiggins has replaced Lee Hills on the bench for Palace.

24 min: Purse fouls Ifill 30 yards out and Watson curls it inches wide of the left hand post. Unlucky. Henton in the Cardiff goal was struggling if it was in target.

26 min: Ifill cross goes just over Beattie's head but Lawrence collects and Roger Johnson has to be on his toes to clear his ball ahead of Watson.

29 min: Fantastic block from McCarthy as Chopra dances inside Fonte on the edge of the box but just as he shoots the Irishman pops up from nowhere to block it. Eddie Johnson then fires high and wide.

31 Min: PENALTY. Fonte brings down Chopra.

32 min: GOAL. Chopra scores low to the keepers left with Flahavan going the wrong way. He won it after speeding around the outside of Fonte and as Fonte stretches for the ball he just clipped the striker - though it looked like he got some of the ball too.

34 min: Good work from Oster sets up Beattie but he takes too many touches and Cardiff get the tackle in.

36 min: GOAL! Palace equalise. Flahavan claims a corner and immediately hits it long. Ifill and Scannell chase and Ifill just gets a boot to it before Heaton. It hits the keeper and falls to Scanell who slides it into an empty net. The players rush to congratulate Flahavan.

37 min: Scannell full of confidence now, curls over from inside the box.

43 min: Palace are ending the half the better now though Cardiff look dangerous at times. Most of the Palace threat is coming through Scannell at the moment.

45 min: Beattie wastes a good chance when with Scannell in acres of space out wide he decides to wait for foul which doesn't come and loses the ball. Cardiff break and earn a corner which flashes across goal without a touch. Two minutes added on.

HALF TIME: Probably a fair scoreline though Palace haven't had too many chances. Cardiff started the better but the Eagles improved once Chopra scored the goal he was bound to get today on his return here. Could make for an interesting second half and if Palace can keep their concentration they might just nick something.

46 min: Palace get us back under way and less than a minute in Fonte does well to cut the ball out after Lawrence misses his header entirely. Then 30 seconds later produces a brilliant last ditch tackle to deny Eddie Johnson.

50 min: Ledley gets lengthy treatment after he and Lawrence slide for a ball but looks like he will be ok to continue.

52 min: GOAL. Ledley comes straight back on to the pitch and scores. Eddie Johnson wins a header ahead of McCarthy - which he has been doing all day - and Ledley is completely free as he runs on to it and scores from 10 yards out.

55 min: Palace rocking now as Eddie Johnson fires straight at Flahavan who a minute late dallies on the ball too long and is almost closed down by Chopra.

57 min: Scannell was Palace's best player in the first half but Palace haven't used him yet in the second.

61 min: SUB: Beattie off, Kuqi on. Warnock is absolutely livid about something on the touchline. Palace have lost concentration now as Chopra escapes from a throw in but wastes the chance.

64 min: The ref has a quick word to Warnock but doesn't send him to the stands as McCarthy's cross is headed weakly at goal by Kuqi.

67 min: Ifill and Watson both have long shots blocked before Kuqi shoots just wide on the turn.

67 min: YELLOW CARD: Whittingham blocked for a late challenge on Oster.

70 min: SUB: Whittingham off, Parry on. Not a bad replacement.

70 min: Attendance: 17478

71 min: SUB: Oster off, Moses on.

73 min: Flahavan off his line quickly to deny Chopra as he races onto Parry's throughout.

76 min: Chopra looks a class above as with no support he twists McCarthy and Hill inside out before curling over.

78 min: A bit of Ifill trickery wins a free kick 20 yards out but it hits the wall and goes out for a corner which flashes across goal without anyone getting a touch.

80 min: Parry's drive hits McCarthy and goes just wide with Flahavan stranded.

80 min: SUB: Rae off, Blake on.

82 min: Watson hits the first man at a corner again - tice in a row. He has done that a lot today but has another chance here as Ifill's shot deflects wide off Parry. It was better but Eddie Johnson clears.

87 min: Scannell wins a free-kick out wide and you guessed it - Watson hits the first man. The rebound comes to Derry but he lobs it well over.

90 min: Palace are pressing but Cardiff defending well. Then with Clint Hill in a great crossing position the ref stops play with McNaughton down with a head injury.

90 minutes: Four minutes added on.

92 min: Great chance for Scannell but Heaton saves.

93 min: PENALTY, RED CARD AND SAVE. Parry is allowed to flick on for Eddie Johnson who races past Hill's challenge but Lawrence brings him down. He got the ball but the ref sees it differently and awards the penalty and a red card for Lawrence. Flahavan pushes Chopra's spot-kick on to the post. Great save.

FULL TIME: Palace go down and I'm sure Warnock will have plenty to say after. Fonte was probably our best player despite the first penalty and in the end Palace just didn't have enough going forward. Next up Bristol City at home on Saturday. See you then.