Palace threw away another lead to go down 2-1 to Cardiff in their big Boxing Day clash on a wet day in Wales.
Mile Jedinak gave the away side the lead in the opening few minutes but goals from Craig Noone and Aron Gunnarrson sealed a win for top-of-the-table Cardiff.
Manager Ian Holloway was forced to give Danny Gabbidon his first start for the Eagles thanks to Damo Delaney's first of three games out suspended. Jonny Parr was switched to right-back for Joel Ward with Dean Moxey slotting in at left-back. Otherwise it was the same lineup that started against Huddersfield, with Owen Garvan in an attacking role behind Glenn Murray.
And Palace got the perfect start when Mile Jedinak converted Garvan's inswinging corner after just two minutes to give the South Londoners the lead.
And the away side continued to dominate the opening exchanges, Yannick Bolasie's great run and cross was just over Murray's head, before Muzza raced clear of the defence but his poor touch allowed David Marshall to collect the ball.
Meanwhile, former Palace defender Mark Hudson was booked for a foul on Murray, but that didn' stop the big centre-back continuing to rough up the Eagles striker.
Another recipient of rough treatment from Cardiff defenders was Wilf Zaha, who was offered no protection from referee Phill Gibbs and was booked for showing his frustration, but he could have doubled Palace's lead when he raced into the area and thundered a shot against the crossbar.
Down the other end Craig Bellamy nipped into the box but good closing down from Peter Ramage allowed Speroni to make a save.
Gibbs then allowed himself to be swayed by the home fans and booked Bolasie before seemingly missing an elbow on Murray from Marshall.
And just before half-time Cardiff's pressure paid as Craig Noone equalised for the home side.
Murray had a chance to restore the lead right on half-time but blazed over from 12 yards to complete a poor 45 minutes for the big man, and the teams went in level at the break.
The start of the second half saw head injuries to both Garvan and Bolasie, with the former being missed by Gibbs who was having a poor game. Meanwhile Gabbidon flicked on a header from a corner but it was missed by everyone.
The rain continued to lash down but that didn't stop both sides creating chances; Garvan was sent through by Murray but fired wide before Bellamy had a shot well saved by Speroni.
And Palace were claiming a penalty with half an hour left after when Zaha went down in the box under pressure from Ben Turner but Gibbs instead gave a foul against the Eagles forward.
And Cardiff took the lead with 15 minutes left when Gunnarsson headed in Bellamy's corner to make it 2-1.
Palace's frustration started to pay as they conceded soft free-kicks, Peter Whittingham skimming the bar with one effort.
As the game entered the final five minutes Holloway went for broke, chucking on Jermaine Easter for Parr, with KG slotting in at right-back.
But it wasn't to be and the full-time whistle went and Holloway suffered his second defeat as Palace manager to leave the Eagles six points off top spot, but just two from Hull in second.
Palace lineup: Speroni; Parr (Easter), Gabbidon, Ramage, Moxey; KG, Jedinak; Zaha, Garvan, Bolasie (Moritz); Murray.