CRYSTAL Palace made sure of a play-off spot as Mile Jedinak’s late winner relegated Peterborough United to League One.

Posh took a 28th minute lead through Lee Tomlin before Glenn Murray equalised on the stroke of half-time with a penalty.

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing restored Peterborough’s advantage on 63 minutes before substitute Kevin Phillips equalised seven minutes from time.

At this stage, a draw would have kept the visitors in the division but their worst nightmare came true on 89 minutes as Jedinak headed home from a free-kick to send them down.

Palace had a great chance to get their noses in front on 12 minutes when Delaney’s header from Yannick Bolasie’s cross was well saved by Bobby Olejnik and Glenn Murray’s follow up shot was deflected behind by Grant McCann.

Dwight Gayle’s low angled shot from inside the area was well saved by Julian Speroni and then Murray headed just over at the other end.

Mendez-Lang’s 20 yard drive went just off target midway through the first half, while Posh survived a scare after Olejnik dropped Dean Moxey’s cross before the ball was scrambled away.

But it was Peterborough who took the lead on 28 minutes when Tomlin was allowed to run forward unchallenged and unleash a stinging 20-yard shot which flew past Speroni.

The visitors should have doubled their advantage when Mendez-Laing whipped in a low cross which neither Gayle or Alex Pritchard could apply a final touch which would surely have made it 2-0.

But Palace were handed a lifeline on the stroke of half-time when Gabriel Zakuani tripped Danny Gabbidon in the box and Murray stepped up to smash the resultant spot-kick home, his 30th Championship goal of the campaign.

Grant McCann’s 52nd minute free-kick went straight at Speroni and then Owen Garvan flashed a 25 yard shot wide.

Only a scrambled goal-line clearance by Peterborough skipper Tommy Rowe prevented Murray putting the Eagles in front after he had been picked out by Wilfried Zaha.

Zaha fired straight at Olejnik but it was Peterborough who restored their advantage in the 63rd minute when Mendez-Laing’s curling shot from inside the box beat Speroni.

Ian Holoway made a double change four minutes later by taking off Bolasie and garvan for Jonny Wiliams and Phillips.

Speroni did well to tip over McCann’s 20-yard free-kick just before Kagisho Dikgacoi made way for Stephen Dobbie.

Murray blazed over a shot from six yards when it looked much easier to score but Phillips showed him exactly to do it in the 83rd minute with a classy finish from inside the box.

And there was still time for Palace to win it at the death as Jedinak glanced in Dobbie’s free-kick to send Peterborough crashing to relegation and League One.

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Crystal Palace: Speroni, Ward, Delaney, Gabbidon, Moxey, Dikgacoi (Dobbie 75), Jedinak, Zaha, Bolasie (Williams 67), Garvan (Phillips 67), Murray. Subs not used: Price, Wilbraham, Ramage, Moritz. Att: 22,154