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Leicester 1-0 Crystal Palace
PA
Leicester striker Barry Hayles' fortunate 89th-minute strike was enough to end Crystal Palace's 15-match unbeaten run in the Coca-Cola Championship in a poor match at the Walkers Stadium.
Matt Oakley's low cross hit Hayles' heel at the far post and looped agonisingly over Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni, before dropping into the far corner.
Leicester were marginally the better side throughout, and Hayles' strike partner Steve Howard wasted two good chances - while Palace's best moment ended in a disallowed goal when Clinton Morrison scored from an offside position.
A terrible pitch played its part as both sides struggled to construct any meaningful attacks.
Neil Warnock has worked miracles at Palace since taking charge, but the play-off hopefuls were no easier on the eye than Ian Holloway's side in a wretched affair.
With neither side fielding an out-and-out winger or a striker capable of getting in behind the defence, the majority of the match was compacted into a congested middle third - where aggression outweighed inspiration.
The home side were just four points above the relegation zone at the start of play but started brightly and should have gone ahead in the ninth minute.
England Under-21s international Joe Mattock swung a searching ball in the direction of Hayles, which Palace left-back Clint Hill could only head to the waiting Howard. The former Derby striker waited for the ball to drop but lashed his volley high over the bar.
Hayles was next to threaten with a well-struck drive from the edge of the area which flew a yard wide of Speroni's right-hand post, before the play descended into an ugly series of throw-ins and free-kicks on a sticky pitch.
A set-piece looked the most likely route to goal, and Palace midfielder Ben Watson almost scored direct from a corner with a devilish delivery which forced on-loan Tottenham goalkeeper Ben Alnwick to punch away from under his bar.
Neither manager could have been happy with the first half. But the hosts started the second period brightly and had a great chance through Hungarian winger Zsolt Laczko in the opening seconds.
Iain Hume drilled in a low cross to the near post, where Laczko had got across his marker. But in keeping with the wretched standard of the match, he produced an air-shot - and the ball rebounded off his standing leg for a goal-kick.
Hume then came within inches of opening the scoring with the first moment of genuine quality.
Howard was fouled by Watson 25 yards from goal, and the Canadian bent a fine free-kick over the wall and into the side-netting - with Speroni well beaten.
Palace finally had the ball in the net in the 65th minute when Morrison turned in Shaun Derry's shot, but the former Republic of Ireland striker was well offside.
Howard then wasted the best chance of the night in the 74th minute.
Again the moment of danger came from a set-piece, and Hume's swirling cross from the left found Howard on the corner of the six-yard box - but again he failed to make a telling connection, and the ball drifted wide.
A goalless draw looked the most likely outcome until substitute Gabor Bori released Oakley down the right, and his low cross cannoned off Hayles and into the net.
Leicester 1-0 Crystal Palace
PA
Leicester striker Barry Hayles' fortunate 89th-minute strike was enough to end Crystal Palace's 15-match unbeaten run in the Coca-Cola Championship in a poor match at the Walkers Stadium.
Matt Oakley's low cross hit Hayles' heel at the far post and looped agonisingly over Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni, before dropping into the far corner.
Leicester were marginally the better side throughout, and Hayles' strike partner Steve Howard wasted two good chances - while Palace's best moment ended in a disallowed goal when Clinton Morrison scored from an offside position.
A terrible pitch played its part as both sides struggled to construct any meaningful attacks.
Neil Warnock has worked miracles at Palace since taking charge, but the play-off hopefuls were no easier on the eye than Ian Holloway's side in a wretched affair.
With neither side fielding an out-and-out winger or a striker capable of getting in behind the defence, the majority of the match was compacted into a congested middle third - where aggression outweighed inspiration.
The home side were just four points above the relegation zone at the start of play but started brightly and should have gone ahead in the ninth minute.
England Under-21s international Joe Mattock swung a searching ball in the direction of Hayles, which Palace left-back Clint Hill could only head to the waiting Howard. The former Derby striker waited for the ball to drop but lashed his volley high over the bar.
Hayles was next to threaten with a well-struck drive from the edge of the area which flew a yard wide of Speroni's right-hand post, before the play descended into an ugly series of throw-ins and free-kicks on a sticky pitch.
A set-piece looked the most likely route to goal, and Palace midfielder Ben Watson almost scored direct from a corner with a devilish delivery which forced on-loan Tottenham goalkeeper Ben Alnwick to punch away from under his bar.
Neither manager could have been happy with the first half. But the hosts started the second period brightly and had a great chance through Hungarian winger Zsolt Laczko in the opening seconds.
Iain Hume drilled in a low cross to the near post, where Laczko had got across his marker. But in keeping with the wretched standard of the match, he produced an air-shot - and the ball rebounded off his standing leg for a goal-kick.
Hume then came within inches of opening the scoring with the first moment of genuine quality.
Howard was fouled by Watson 25 yards from goal, and the Canadian bent a fine free-kick over the wall and into the side-netting - with Speroni well beaten.
Palace finally had the ball in the net in the 65th minute when Morrison turned in Shaun Derry's shot, but the former Republic of Ireland striker was well offside.
Howard then wasted the best chance of the night in the 74th minute.
Again the moment of danger came from a set-piece, and Hume's swirling cross from the left found Howard on the corner of the six-yard box - but again he failed to make a telling connection, and the ball drifted wide.
A goalless draw looked the most likely outcome until substitute Gabor Bori released Oakley down the right, and his low cross cannoned off Hayles and into the net.
