Jedinak keeps Palace bandwagon rolling (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Jedinak keeps Palace bandwagon rolling

5:21pm Saturday 3rd March 2012 in npower Championship Table & Results By Graham Moody, Sports Reporter

Mile Jedinak’s first Crystal Palace goal gave the Eagles a deserved 1-0 win over Peterborough United at Selhurst Park.

The Australian hooked in with 14 minutes left as Palace extended their unbeaten run to six games and kept alive their hopes of a play-off spot.

It was just about deserved for the Eagles who came alive in the last 20 minutes and should have won by more.

But, before then, they were sluggish and slow to start against Posh who may feel hard done by having enjoyed the better of the first half.

Julian Speroni had to save from George Boyd and twice from Tyrone Barnett in the opening 25 minutes while Tommy Rowe also shot wide when he should have done better.

The Eagles only came to life on 26 minutes when Wilfried Zaha used his skill to get to the byline and cross in front of goal to Darren Ambrose, who took a touch and blasted over.

Paddy McCarthy then put a free header wide and Ambrose’s shot was deflected onto the post after he was set up by Jermaine Easter as the Eagles ended the half the stronger.

Peterborough, for all they impressed in the first half, were poor in the second but Palace were struggling to force Paul Jones into a save.

Chris Martin swept wide when he should have hit the target and was also denied by Craig Alcock’s tackle at the near post minutes later.

Sensing they were on top, Palace started to force matters and Zaha’s deep cross found Jedinak at the back post, who forced Jones into his first save of the afternoon.

But the keeper was at fault soon after as he came to collect Ambrose’s free kick but dropped it under pressure from his own player, Gabriel Zakuani, and Jedinak showed great composure to hook in.

From then on it was all Palace as substitute Glenn Murray had a low shot saved and Ambrose curled over.

Murray put another chance over the bar and Dean Moxey, making his first appearance since November after injury, had a late effort well saved by Jones.

The win keeps Palace 13th, eight points off the play-offs as they head to third bottom Coventry City on Tuesday.