Darryl Flahavan: Not at fault for either goal and apart from a couple of poor first touches did well on league debut. 7

Matt Lawrence: A bit slow to react for the second goal but perhaps harshly sent off late on. 6

Paddy McCarthy: Let Eddie Johnson head the ball too often and paid for it in the lead up to Cardiff’s winner. 5

Jose Fonte: Beaten all ends up by Chopra in the lead up to first goal but he made vital interceptions throughout that stopped Palace losing by more. Man of the match. 7

Clint Hill: Did not get forward that often but coped well at left-back with Cardiff’s pace on the counter attack. 6

Shaun Derry: Was a little anonymous at times but broke up play well in the centre of the park. 6 Ben Watson: The speculation might be getting to him. His set-pieces were poor throughout. 5

John Oster: Was busy in the middle of the park but gave the ball away a lot. 5

Paul Ifill: Good work for the goal but was a little off the pace. 5

Sean Scannell: Palace’s best player in the first half but the Eagles failed to use him enough in the second. Took his goal well. 7

Craig Beattie: Took too many touches when in good positions and had just one weak header at goal the entire game. 5

SUBS:

Shefki Kuqi (Beattie, 61): Did not make an impact. 5

Victor Moses (Oster, 71): Looked unsure what to do when he got the ball. 5