Crystal Palace spank Cardiff City to edge closer to Premier League safety

Crystal Palace scored three goals on the road at Cardiff City to move further clear of the drop zone and worsen the situation in the Welsh capital.

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Jason Puncheon put the Eagles ahead just after the half-hour mark by drilling into the corner after collecting a pass from Joe Ledley.

Chances were few and far between in the rest of the first half before Cardiff continued to struggle in the final third after half time.

Palace put the game out of reach in the 71st minute when Ledley prodded home after David Marshall had kept out Marouane Chamakh's header.

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It was three for the visitors two minutes from time when Puncheon got his second of the game with a curling shot into the top corner that Marshall could do nothing about.

Defeat sees Cardiff fall to 19th and six points adrift of safety, while Palace have risen to 14th.