Danny Granville rescued a valuable point for Iain Dowie's Eagles as play-off rivals Wigan held out for a draw at Selhurst Park.
And Paul Jewell's outfit had to finish the match with nine players as Jason Roberts and Jason Jarrett were both sent off late on after collecting two yellows each.
A lousy first half slipped into action a minute before the break. Nathan Ellington collected the ball just inside the box, and his shot deflected off Mark Hudson before looping over keeper Nico Vaesen and dropping down into the far corner of the net.
Up until then Palace failed to muster one effort on target while Wigan were quite happy to sit back as the Eagles struggled to find any momentum.
Palace showed more urgency after the break as Andrew Johnson hit the post and Neil Shpperley should have done better with a close-range header.
Hudson also fired over before Granville had Palace on level terms with 11 minutes left.
Wayne Routledge won a free-kick on the right side and his cross into the goalmouth found the Palace defender with just enough space to squeeze in a low header.
John Filan kept it out only for Granville, who this time was more successful as he scrambled the rebound over the line.
It was all Palace and Wigan did not help their cause when they went down to nine players but they held out.
Wigan's manager Paul Jewell said: "It was a scrappy game and I was disappointed with our performance.
"I am unhappy with the sending offs as Roberts got his second yellow for what the referee said was 'adopting an aggressive attitude'.
"And I didn't agree with Jarrett's second yellow. We never looked like scoring a second and Palace put us under some pressure in those closing stages." Palace boss Iain Dowie said: "A point was the minimum we deserved and perhaps we deserved all three.
"Granville deserved his goal and it was a quality ball from Wayne Routledge. Wigan are a good side and it was always going to be difficult."