Crystal Palace 3 – 2 Peterborough United: Palace Secure Playoff Berth as Victory Sends Peterborough Down!

An eighty ninth minute header from Mile Jedinak settled this key match in Palace’s favour with crucial final day consequences at both ends of the table. Palace and Peterborough both needed something from the game to secure their objectives; Palace a point for the playoffs, Peterborough a point to avoid relegation. Peterborough had lost just two of their last thirteen matches hardly relegation form, and started confidently. Although having not won since March it was Palace’s home record of two defeats all season that meant they only needed a point to stay in the playoffs.

The game itself was an up and down affair and was surprisingly open given the circumstances. Peterborough’s play was very attractive given their perilous position as Palace relied on home comforts to find form before the playoffs. Palace could have taken the lead when Delaney’s header was parried by Bobby Olejnik to Murray only for his goal bound shot to be cleared brilliantly off the line by Peterborough defender Grant McCann.

On twenty eight minutes Lee Tomlin gave Peterborough United the lead scoring a brilliant goal on the break. Cutting across Dean Moxey and Damien Delaney and shooting powerfully across Speroni into the net. Just before half time Glenn Murray ended an eight game baron spell slamming home a penalty on half time. The penalty followed a clumsy challenge in the box on Gabbidon by Zakuani after Peterborough failed to clear a corner. At half time it was 1 – 1 and results were putting Peterborough down.

At half time Peterborough knew the task in hand for the second half to stay up and knew they had to attack. For Palace results elsewhere would dictate an academic second half with the game only important for momentum as Palace was in the playoffs regardless. Yet unfortunately for tension levels none of the facts was known from rumour at the time. When Mendez-Laing put Peterborough 2 – 1 up they were safe as score lines were changing in their favour elsewhere. At this point Palace was unsure of a playoff place and the tension inside Selhurst was rising. Murray again had a shot cleared off the line and at this stage it appeared as though the Eagles end of season struggles would continue.

A brave attacking triple substitution after the hour would change everything. Holloway brought on Williams, Dobbie and Phillips for Garvan, Dikgacoi, and Bolasie and suddenly the Posh looked nervous. At this point the results elsewhere were keeping Peterborough up. Even when Dobbie brilliantly played in Phillips to show sublime close control in the box, to turn and fire home a low equaliser, Peterborough was still safe from the drop.

At 2 – 2 all was well for both teams. The pressure had been released and the equaliser in the eighty third minute meant Palace knew their fate, although Peterborough was nervously trusting to luck. Despite Huddersfield Town’s goal in the match against Barnsley a controversial free kick was about to decide the relegation issue permanently. On eighty nine minutes Dwight Gale was adjudged to have fouled Jonny Williams. Stephen Dobbie delivered the free kick onto Mile Jedinak’s head to head home Palace’s winner and relegated Peterborough in the process. Palace won 3 – 2 and the team achieved a place in the playoffs against rivals Brighton. The misfortunate Peterborough United was relegated on 54 points. The highest points total for a relegated team in Championship history.

Given the circumstances respectful relief and muted Palace celebration greeted the final whistle. Tremendous credit should go to the entire Crystal Palace team and staff for finishing 5^th this season after finishing 17^th last year. To achieve the goal of the playoffs for the first time since 2008 despite all that has happened this season shows what a strong unit this team is. Deserved reward is a tasty semi final derby down the A23 against bitterest rivals Brighton. The excitement commences over two legs from Friday. The final place in the Premier League is up for grabs!

GO PALACE!!!