Barry Hayles was the last action hero for Leicester City as his 89th minute winner ensured his side a 1-0 victory over high-flying Crystal Palace at the Walkers Stadium on Monday night.
The veteran striker, signed this month from Plymouth, bagged a dramatic late goal - his second in a Foxes shirt - to put an end to the Eagles' 15-game unbeaten run in the Championship and in the process secured his side back-to-back home wins for the first time since August 2006.
Chances were few and far between in front of the Sky cameras with only Iain Hume, Steve Howard and Joe Mattock coming close for Ian Holloway's men.
But Hayles' late, late effort was enough to extend the Foxes unbeaten run in the league to three games and make it just one defeat in seven league matches.
The hosts created the first chance of the contest on two minutes when Steve Howard met Hume's flighted free-kick, but Julian Speroni was on hand to gather the ball at his near post.
The Foxes then had appeals for a penalty turned down by referee Eddie Ilderton on six minutes after Barry Hayles had gone down under a heavy challenge from Matt Lawrence inside the area.
Howard volleyed over from the edge of the area on eight minutes after Joe Mattock's deep cross had only been half cleared by Clint Hill.
At the other end, former Fox James Scowcroft headed just wide from Ben Watson's corner in the 16th minute before Hayles drilled his effort wide a minute later as both sides looked for a breakthrough.
Ben Alnwick had to be alert to punch clear Watson's in-swinging corner from under his own bar on 26 minutes.
Speroni then raced off his line soon after to smother the ball at Howard's feet.
Tom Soares put his shot on the turn wide in the 32nd minute before Howard was crowded out after Zsolt Laczko had burst into the area.
As the first half minutes ticked away, Laczko put his effort just wide from 20-yards.
The home side almost opened the scoring on 43 minutes when Laczko narrowly failed to get a touch on Hayles' teasing cross from the left, with Speroni picking up the pieces.
The Eagles then carved open their own chance as Alnwick's punched clearance fell to captain Mark Hudson on the edge of the area, but his half-volley looped over the crossbar.
And it remained goalless at the interval.
Laczko could have put his side a goal up inside a minute of the re-start but he side-footed his effort wide after meeting Hume's cross from the right.
It was then Hume's turn to find the side-netting with a trademark free-kick from 20-yards out after Howard had been bundled over.
Howard then glanced his header wide from Patrick Kisnorbo's deep set-piece in the 50th minute.
City continued to push forward in search of the opener and it was the turn of Joe Mattock to force Speroni into a save with his angled drive from 25-yards.
Palace hit back with a snap-shot from Scowcroft dropping harmlessly over the bar in the 57th minute.
The injured Richard Stearman made way for Bruno N'Gotty on 62 minutes before Clinton Morrison had a goal ruled out for offside three minutes later.
Hume volleyed over in the 66th minute then Hume tried his luck soon after but his effort flew wide of the Eagles' right-hand upright.
Clint Hill's deflected effort went out for a corner on 70 minutes then Howard headed agonisingly wide from Hume's free-kick.
The hosts made a double change in the 75th minute with DJ Campbell and Gabor Bori replacing Hume and Laczko.
Palace made a change of their own on 78 minutes as Sean Scannell made way for Shefki Kuqi.
Stephen Clemence was cautioned for a foul on Lawrence late on
But Hayles dramatically won it for the hosts late on when he converted Matt Oakley's low cross off his knee from the right to spark the joyous celebrations.
Campbell could have made it 2-0 in injury time but put his shot inches wide after cutting in from the left.
But one goal was enough, allowing the celebrations to begin as Ollie's Army moved up to 15th in the table ahead of tomorrow night's matches.
City: Alnwick, Stearman (N'Gotty 62), Kisnorbo, McAuley, Mattock, Hume (Campbell 75), Oakley, Clemence ©, Laczko (Bori 75), Hayles, Howard. Subs not used: Wesolowski, Fryatt.
Palace: Speroni, Halls, Lawrence, Hudson ©, Hill, Scannell (Kuqi 78), Derry (Moses 90), Watson, Soares, Scowcroft, Morrison. Subs not used: Hills, Fletcher, Butterfield.
Yellow Cards
City: Clemence (87)
Palace: None
Referee: Eddie Ilderton (Tyne & Wear)
Attendance: 21,764
