Full-time: Bristol City 1 Crystal Palace 0

Nicky Maynard once again assumed the mantle of Bristol City hero as the Robins finished 2008 on a high note in front of their own fans.

Fresh from scoring two goals in the 4-2 Boxing Day romp at Watford, the livewire striker emerged as City’s match-winner for the second time in three days as play-off contenders Crystal Palace were beaten in front of Ashton Gate’s biggest crowd of the season.

Maynard’s sixth goal in eight games, delivered after just 90 seconds, was enough to give the Robins their second successive Christmas win and lift them back into the top half of the Coca-Cola Championship table.

Despite coming close on a number of occasions, City were unable to add to their tally and had to survive some heart-stopping moments before registering their first home win since October 18 and only their third in 13 attempts this term.

In sixth place at the start of the day, Palace came close to an equaliser when Lee Hills rattled the cross bar, while Adriano Basso made a superb save to deny former City midfielder Nick Carle in the latter stages.

But Bristol City created the better chances and fully deserved to win their sixth meeting with Palace this year.

As expected, City boss Gary Johnson retained the side which beat Watford 4-2 at Vicarage Road on Boxing Day and made one change on the bench, recalling fit-again centre-back Jamie McCombe to the bench in favour of loan signing Andy Webster.

And just as they did at Watford 48 hours earlier, the Robins forged an early lead courtesy of leading scorer Nicky Maynard.

A mere 90 seconds had elapsed when the £2.25m record signing from Crewe received the ball on the edge of the penalty area with his back to goal.

There appeared no immediate danger to the Palace goal until the 22-year-old striker controlled with his chest and turned his marker in one fluid movement before rifling in an unstoppable shot from the edge of the penalty area which Julian Speroni could only admire as it flew past him and into the left-hand corner of the net.

Maynard was inches away from a ninth Championship goal in City colours when Stern John flicked the ball on and centre-back Jose Fonte made a hash of his attempted clearance after 13 minutes.

Sensing an opportunity to add to his tally, the livewire striker thrust out a boot, lifted the ball over the stranded Speroni and looked on in agony as his shot rolled inches wide of the target.

Palace struggled to operate as an attacking force until John Oster let fly with an angled shot which flashed just wide of Adriano Basso’s goal in the 28th minute.

The best chances continued to materialise at the other end and Speroni was forced to save at the second attempt when John tried his luck from 15 yards out.

Ivan Sproule came closer still to a second goal, cutting inside from the left and unleashing a powerful right-footed shot which cannoned off the base of the post with Speroni beaten all ends up.

But while City led by just the one goal, Palace had hope and Lee Hill almost levelled matters two minutes before half-time, seizing upon McIndoe's weak clearance and sending his first-time shot against the angle of post and bar.

No doubt still smarting from a verbal ear-bashing from irate manager Neil Warnock, Palace emerged for the second half with greater purpose and almost conjured an equaliser on 48 minutes.

Bradley Orr tripped Alan Lee on the edge of the penalty area and former City midfielder Nick Carle curled the resultant free kick towards the top corner, only to be denied by Basso’s fingertip save.

When Carle next tried his luck from range, his snap shot sailed harmlessly over the bar and into the Wedlock Stand.

City responded in positive fashion, Orr picking out McIndoe with a delightful diagonal pass which invited the Scot to shoot first time from 20 yards out. Unfortunately for the home side, McIndoe’s effort failed to trouble Speroni.

Intent upon killing the game off, City continued to commit men to attack and Maynard went close to adding a second when sending a curling effort just beyond the far post from 20 yards out, while Speroni was forced to beat away Orr’s dipping drive.

Try as they might, the home side were unable to force the second goal they so desperately needed and City hearts were in mouths when Carle threatened to equalise 15 minutes from time.

Substitute Shefki Kuqi played the ball into a crowded penalty area and Carle squeezed in a shot which forced a startling reaction save from the unsighted Basso.