Peterborough United were punished for bad defending at Selhurst Park as financially stricken Crystal Palace recorded a 2-0 victory to keep Mark Cooper's men firmly rooted to the bottom of the Coca-Cola Championship.

Lee Frecklington was denied inside the opening two minutes as his fierce shot was parried away by goalkeeper Julian Speroni. At the other end, Shaun Derry tested Joe Lewis from long-range, with the Posh shot-stopper equal to the effort.

Full-back Nathaniel Clyne burst into the box on 18 minutes, but he was squeezed out of it by Tom Williams, who was fortunate moments later after he was robbed by Danny Butterfield. but the midfielder fired wide of the near post.

An inswinging corner from George Boyd picked out Chris Whelpdale on 24 minutes, but his header was cleared off the line by Clyne, who was well positioned by the post. Butterfield scuffed a shot straight at Lewis on 27 minutes as the hosts tried to catch Posh out on the counter attack.

Mark Cooper's men were soon on the attack though and a clever leave from Frecklington presented a chance for Boyd, but his left-foot shot was parried by Speroni, who was certainly being worked this afternoon.

Neil Danns curled a shot over the bar after a mistake by Frecklington moments later as the open feel to this encounter continued with both team's looking to attack. On 28 minutes a succession of headers in the Posh penalty box built the pressure and as the ball dropped, Neil DANNS hooked a close-range volley past Lewis.

Danns was denied by Lewis on 33 minutes as the goal gave the hosts plenty of belief with the home faithful fully behind their financially-stricken club. Alan Lee used his physical prowess to out-muscle Williams to force a shot on goal, but Lewis claimed the effort.

A goal-bound effort from Frecklington was superbly blocked by Davies on 40 minutes after a corner was only half-cleared initially by the Eagles.  Free-scoring midfielder Danny Ambrose hooked a volley over the top after Alan Lee again outjumped his namesake Charlie in an aerial challenge.  

Some excellent wing play from Palace fan Boyd ended with a teasing cross to the back post, but Whelpdale miss-timed his run and the ball was cleared. Moments later and Butterfield wasted a golden opportunity to score after poor Posh defending from a long throw, the midfielder volleying his effort over the bar from close-range.

Half-time: Crystal Palace 1-0 Posh

Transfer-listed Aaron Mclean replaced Frecklington as Posh reverted back to a 4-4-2 system and the change did signal a change in intent from the visitors. Craig Mackail-Smith hooked a volley over the bar on 62 minutes after a long throw from Whelpdale.

Gilbert produced a fine last-ditch block to deny Ambrose after a long ball had been missed by the Posh defence. The warning signs were obviously there and the Eagles took advantage on 66 minutes as a straight ball from Ambrose appeared to be left by Bennett and with Lee deeper than the rest and playing anyone running onside, DANNS calmly picked his spot to extend the lead.

Whelpdale was immediately denied by goalkeeper Speroni after cutting inside from the right, but the second goal certainly seemed to end the game as a contest. Butterfield could have added a third on 68 minutes after racing clear, but after rounding Lewis, he found the side-netting, although the goalkeeper did well to get a hand on the ball.

Goalkeeper Speroni made a superb double stop to deny a curler from Boyd with substitute Rueben Reid then seeing the rebound fingertipped around the post as the referee pointed for a corner kick.

Carle fired wide from 25-yards as Palace threatened a third and that second goal certainly seemed to affect the Posh players who were struggling to get the ball under control.

Final Score: Crystal Palace 2-0 Posh

Posh: Lewis, Gilbert, Williams, Lee, Bennett, Boyd, Whelpdale, Livermore, Simpson, Frecklington (sub Mclean 58min), Mackail-Smith (sub Reid 72min). Unused subs:  McKeown, Coutts, Rowe, Wright, Geohaghon.

Palace: Speroni, Clyne, Hill, Derry, Ambrose (sub Scannell 87min), Danns, Carle, Hills (sub Djilali 70min), Lee (sub Andrew 70min), Butterfield, Davies. Unused subs: Lawrence, Comley, Cadogan, Mann.

Referee: G. Salisbury
Attendance: 14,699 (750 Posh fans)