Full-time: Crystal Palace 0 Bristol City 1. Chris Iwelumo scored what could be one of City's most important goals of the season to secure much-needed victory at Selhurst Park.

Defeat against Championship strugglers Palace would have left the Robins staring down the barrel of a relegation battle with awkward fixtures away to Reading and Plymouth to negotiate in the next seven days.

But when it was needed most, Iwelumo afforded City valuable breathing space with a 73rd minute strike of startling brilliance.

City's third away win of the season served to carry them eight points clear of the Eagles, ease the pressure on under-fire manager Gary Johnson and restore some of the confidence lost during Saturday's horrendous 5-2 home defeat to Doncaster Rovers.

It looked as though both sides would have to settle for a point when Iwelumo, the Scottish international striker signed on loan from Premier League Wolves last month, produced a moment of magic to break the deadlock.

There appeared little danger to the home side's goal as Liam Fontaine took a throw-in, yet three Palace defenders contrived to head the ball and it fell invitingly to the 32-year-old target man, who sent a scorching right-footed volley over keeper Julian Speroni and into the top corner of the net to spark jubilant celebrations among City's travelling contingent.

It may not have been pretty, but the result was all that mattered and City's players will derive a good deal of satisfaction at completing a league double over opponents who have become bitter rivals in recent seasons.

Given the series of controversies which have generated bad blood between these two sides in recent seasons, City manager Gary Johnson contended Palace were ideal opponents in the wake of Saturday's unexpected setback. Certainly City, who adopted a more compact 4-3-3 formation, appeared committed, snapping into tackles and pressuring their opponents all over the pitch in an opening quarter more notable for huff and puff rather than any startling quality.

Nevertheless, there was no shortage of incident, Bradley Orr testing Speroni with a half volley which the keeper gathered at the second attempt and Palace claiming a penalty, albeit in vain, when Johhny Ertl's fiercely-struck shot appeared to cannon off Louis Carey's raised hand.

Without an away goal since Nicky Maynard netted against QPR at Loftus Road on Boxing Day, City established a foothold in midfield, shaded the contest in terms of possession and territory but, as so often this season, seldom threatened a goal.

Big Iwelumo proved an attacking fulcrum for the visitors, winning a majority of the headers he contested, holding the ball up to good effect and bringing team-mates into the game. But when Lee Johnson presented him with an opportunity to shoot, the loan signing swept the midfielder's enticing cross high over the bar and into the grandstand.

Restored to the starting line-up, Scottish international Paul Hartley was pulling the strings in the middle of the park and one glorious through ball set Liam Fontaine scampering clear on the left, only for the full-back to over-hit his cross when a more accurate effort might have opened the door for Iwelumo at the far post.

Palace were little better in the final third, Calvin Andrew and Ertl shooting weakly at Dean Gerken when power was called for. When Andrew raced onto a long clearance from Matt Lawrence, his way to goal was barred by Fontaine's superbly-timed sliding tackle.

City were first to threaten after the break, Carey's pass inviting Orr to travel and the right-back picking out Iwelumo, whose shot ballooned off the top of his boot and over Speroni's cross bar. But the Eagles came closer to breaking the deadlock moments later, Alan Lee losing Lewin Nyatange to meet a Darren Ambrose free kick with a stooping header which flew wide of the target from six yards out. At the very least, he should have made Gerken work.

But most of the action was at the other end and Cole Skuse had a thunderous shot blocked by Clint Hill, Speroni pulled a sweetly-struck drive from Orr down to safety, while another period of concerted City pressure concluded with Fontaine leaning back and shooting into the night sky.

Iwelumo's wonderful strike served to illuminate an otherwise mundane affair and, once he had given City the lead, the visitors held out without any major scares.

City (4-3-3): Gerken; Orr, Carey, Nyatanga, Fontaine; Skuse, Hartley, Johnson; Campbell-Ryce, Iwelumo (Akinde 86), Maynard (McAllister 90).

Palace (4-3-3): Speroni; Butterfield, Lawrence, Hill, Clyne; Carle (John 80), Derry, Ertl; Andrew, Lee, Ambrose (Danns 68).

Referee: Mick Russell (Hertfordshire)

Attendance: 12,844