Leicester ended Crystal Palace's long unbeaten run with a 1-0 win at the Walkers Stadium.
Barry Hayles bundled the ball home a minute from time to give Leicester a hard-fought victory and inflict Palace's first defeat in 16 games in the Championship.
After a dour first half the game improved in the second period as both sides pushed forward in search of an opener.
Iain Hume went close to breaking the deadlock on 49 minutes with a superb free-kick from the edge of the box which flew into the side-netting.
Jamie Scowcroft had a sight of goal for Palace on 57 minutes when the ball dropped to him inside the box, but he could only volley his effort over the crossbar.
Clinton Morrison thought he had opened the scoring on 65 minutes when he turned the ball home from close-range only for the offside flag to cut short his celebrations.
Steve Howard wasted a good opening on 74 minutes when he rose highest to meet Hume's free-kick only to head his effort off target.
The game looked set to end in a goalless draw until Hayles somewhat fortuitously bundled the ball home from close-range to give Leicester all three points.
The win lifts Leicester up to 15th spot in the table, while Palace remain in the play-off spots in sixth.
Leicester manager Ian Holloway challenged his players to emulate Crystal Palace's 15-match unbeaten run after the match.
Holloway said: "I'm just happy to get one over Mrs Doubtfire [Neil Warnock] but fair play to him - he's done wonders for Palace.
"You can throw a very small handkerchief over this division and anyone can beat anyone.
"Three wins in a row and we could be in the play-offs. Palace have proved that and that's what we have to try and do."
Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock said: "It was a scrappy game and took a goal which Hayles didn't know anything about to win it.
"They didn't deserve to win. It was two good defences against each other and the pitch was the worst I've seen this year.
"We tried to pass it as best as we could but it got to the point where we just couldn't.
More news from SportingLife.com




