Chris Iwelumo's moment of magic proved the difference between the two sides as Bristol City saw off fellow strugglers Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
The on-loan Wolves striker struck a stunning volley on the turn from inside the area 17 minutes from time to settle a dour encounter.
Jamal Campbell-Ryce came close to a second but an out-of-sorts Palace could not muster a response at the other end.
The defeat leaves Palace outside the drop zone on goal difference alone.
Crystal Palace boss Paul Hart: "I said to them in the dressing room, 'This is us, there's no more coming in and there is no-one going so it is me and you and that's it'.
"I said we have got seven weeks and there's three that go down, so if you finish fourth bottom you have achieved.
"When you get a points deduction like we have it is a kick in the nether regions."
Bristol City boss Gary Johnson:
"It's not just the bouncing back that's delighted me. It's the nature of the performance as well.
"We felt we had to win all our battles over the field and then try and play our football and the tactic worked very well for us on the day.
"Our club is not bad at coming back from adversity."
90:00+4:29 John Akinde fouled by Clint Hill, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Paul Hartley.
90:00+1:32 Substitution Nicky Maynard leaves the field to be replaced by Jamie McAllister.
90:00+0:25 The offside flag is raised against Jamal Campbell-Ryce. Julian Speroni takes the free kick.
89:20 Clint Hill fouled by John Akinde, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Julian Speroni.
88:23 Jamal Campbell-Ryce takes a shot. Save made by Julian Speroni.
86:56 Julian Speroni takes the free kick.
86:56 Booking John Akinde goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
86:15 Foul by John Akinde on Matthew Lawrence, free kick awarded.
85:25 Substitution (Bristol City) makes a substitution, with John Akinde coming on for Chris Iwelumo.
83:03 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lee Johnson by Johannes Ertl. Dean Gerken takes the free kick.
Correction - 81:40 The referee blows for offside against Stern John. Dean Gerken restarts play with the free kick.
81:40 Stern John is caught offside. Dean Gerken takes the free kick.
80:27 Substitution Stern John on for Nick Carle.
72:53 The assist for the goal came from Liam Fontaine.
72:53 GOAL - Chris Iwelumo:Crystal Palace 0 - 1 Bristol City Chris Iwelumo scores a goal from inside the box to the top right corner of the goal. Crystal Palace 0-1 Bristol City.
71:41 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Paul Hartley from the left by-line, Alan Lee makes a clearance.
68:21 Free kick awarded for a foul by Alan Lee on Lewin Nyatanga. Direct free kick taken by Louis Carey.
66:56 Substitution Neil Danns comes on in place of Darren Ambrose.
65:33 Liam Fontaine challenges Alan Lee unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Nick Carle from right channel, Dean Gerken makes a save.
64:48 Bradley Orr takes a shot. Save by Julian Speroni.
Correction - 63:37 Liam Fontaine has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.
63:37 Effort from the edge of the penalty box by Liam Fontaine goes wide of the right-hand upright.
60:49 Corner taken right-footed by Paul Hartley from the left by-line, save by Julian Speroni.
60:25 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Lee Johnson, clearance made by Calvin Andrew.
Correction - 59:02 Effort from the edge of the area by Darren Ambrose goes wide of the right-hand post.
59:02 Effort from the edge of the penalty box by Darren Ambrose goes wide of the right-hand upright.
57:42 Outswinging corner taken by Paul Hartley from the right by-line, Clint Hill manages to make a clearance.
57:05 Unfair challenge on Paul Hartley by Johannes Ertl results in a free kick. Dean Gerken restarts play with the free kick.
55:45 Jamal Campbell-Ryce challenges Danny Butterfield unfairly and gives away a free kick. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Danny Butterfield, Lewin Nyatanga makes a clearance.
53:34 The free kick is delivered right-footed by Paul Hartley from left wing, Clint Hill manages to make a clearance.
53:34 Booking Danny Butterfield is cautioned by the ref for dissent.
52:54 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jamal Campbell-Ryce by Danny Butterfield.
50:34 Free kick awarded for a foul by Lewin Nyatanga on Alan Lee. Darren Ambrose sends in a cross, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Alan Lee misses to the right of the target.
48:43 Shot by Chris Iwelumo from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.
46:52 Calvin Andrew is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Dean Gerken takes the direct free kick.
45:20 Corner taken by Darren Ambrose from the right by-line, Johannes Ertl concedes a free kick for a foul on Louis Carey. Dean Gerken takes the free kick.
45:01 The game restarts for the second half.
Half Time
45:00+1:02 It is the end of the first-half.
44:45 Jamal Campbell-Ryce is caught offside. Julian Speroni restarts play with the free kick.
43:51 Nicky Maynard produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes wide left of the goal.
Correction - 39:29 Liam Fontaine concedes a free kick for a foul on Nick Carle. Darren Ambrose fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick, blocked by Bradley Orr.
39:29 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nick Carle by Liam Fontaine. Shot comes in from Darren Ambrose from the free kick, blocked by Bradley Orr.
33:46 Darren Ambrose takes a shot. Save by Dean Gerken.
31:04 Danny Butterfield restarts play with the free kick.
31:04 Booking Jamal Campbell-Ryce is shown a yellow card for dissent.
30:23 Paul Hartley gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Danny Butterfield.
28:24 Calvin Andrew takes a shot. Save made by Dean Gerken.
Correction - 25:36 Shot from deep inside the area by Chris Iwelumo clears the crossbar.
25:36 Shot from deep inside the area by Chris Iwelumo goes over the bar.
24:46 Free kick awarded for a foul by Johannes Ertl on Nicky Maynard. Louis Carey takes the free kick.
23:23 Nathaniel Clyne challenges Nicky Maynard unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lee Johnson restarts play with the free kick.
Correction - 20:59 Shot from just outside the box by Paul Hartley misses to the right of the target.
20:59 Paul Hartley produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the goal.
Correction - 19:00 Foul by Nick Carle on Lee Johnson, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed right-footed by Paul Hartley from left channel, save by Julian Speroni.
19:00 Lee Johnson fouled by Nick Carle, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Paul Hartley.
18:03 Corner taken right-footed by Paul Hartley, Calvin Andrew makes a clearance.
17:13 Corner from right by-line taken by Paul Hartley.
16:38 Nicky Maynard is caught offside. Free kick taken by Julian Speroni.
13:48 Chris Iwelumo takes a shot. Julian Speroni makes a save.
12:54 Nicky Maynard is caught offside. Julian Speroni restarts play with the free kick.
10:41 Free kick awarded for a foul by Louis Carey on Alan Lee. Clint Hill takes the free kick. Johannes Ertl has an effort at goal. Louis Carey gets a block in.
8:59 Free kick awarded for a foul by Jamal Campbell-Ryce on Nathaniel Clyne. Free kick taken by Clint Hill.
7:36 Unfair challenge on Paul Hartley by Nick Carle results in a free kick. Liam Fontaine restarts play with the free kick.
3:43 Alan Lee is ruled offside. Louis Carey restarts play with the free kick.
2:30 The assistant referee signals for offside against Alan Lee. Louis Carey takes the free kick.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to start the match.
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