Derby County picked up a deserved double at Selhurst Park to finally kill their dying relegation fears.
In a disappointing stop-start game they were always superior and at times displayed the talent that seemed to indicate top of the table status.
The strikes came in either half. The first was an inspirational chip from 40 yards by Simo Valakari. He spotted Kelvin Davis off his line after he had pushed away a Richard Jackson cross and hit his lob with perfection.
Then after 56 minutes Paul Boertien punched a low drive in to the corner of the net after Tommy Mooney's corner which was partly cleared.
Injury-hit Wimbledon used their 11th recruit from the academy when Michael Gordon came on in the closing stages. He did not have long to impress but the youngster looked impressive when he forced his way through only to be checked by Richard Jackson then later he managed a chip into the goalmouth and Andy Oakes did well to gather.
The first real chance came when Fabrizio Ravanelli headed weakly wide form a free-kick after six minutes and moments later had the ball in the net but only after fouling Mikele Leigertwood on the way.
Ten minutes later David Connolly fired a low shot wide of the far post and then saw another diverted for a corner before Mooney headed wide for Derby.
Neil Shipperley, Wimbledon's joint leading scorer broke through but Oakes was able to intervene before the visitors dominated the rest of the proceedings.
After 66 minutes Boertien steamed through and sent a stinging shot goalward only to see it diverted for a corner and not until the last few minutes were the Dons again in the game as a concerted force.