CRYSTAL Palace columnist SAM ROSS is worried his side’s defensive frailties could well be exposed yet again by Brighton in the play-offs.

THE last day of the Championship season didn’t disappoint and showcased just how good a league the second tier of English football really is.

And as usual, Palace were right at the heart of the entertaining day, as Saturday’s 3-2 win over Peterborough secured a play-off spot but also, and somewhat cruelly, sent the Posh down to League One.

Some pundits, more specifically and unsurprisingly Mark Bright, have tipped the Eagles as the side to beat in the play-offs, something I am struggling to agree with.

There is no doubt they have a chance, as does any team in the mix.

But if Ian Holloway is to have another successful experience in the play-offs, then Palace’s defence needs to be sorted out.

The goals we conceded on Saturday were extremely poor.

Peterborough’s opener from Lee Tomlin was amateur defending at best.

The midfielder turned away from Joel Ward and Yannick Bolasie far too easily before slipping past a rare weak challenge from Mile Jedinak and side-stepping Danny Gabbidon as if he wasn't there to shoot straight past Julian Speroni.

All five players should have done better not to allow Tomlin to get his shot off and score.

The second Posh goal was pretty similar.

Had Jedinak not stopped to moan at Alex Pritchard, he would have been in the right position to challenge Nathaniel Mendez-Laing on the edge of the area, who had turned Dean Moxey effortlessly.

The winger’s shot should have been saved by Speroni and as much as I admire the Argentinean, he has been struggling for form in recent weeks.

Saturday’s lapses in concentration were an example of the kind of defending Palace have been culpable for over the last six games and I fear it could make the results in the play-offs embarrassing.

I honestly hope I am wrong, but it is too easy for teams to score against the Eagles.

The pairing of Damien Delaney and Gabbidon clearly doesn’t work and I believe Peter Ramage should be handed his place back in the side.

Gabbidon has proved to me how much of a bad signing he was.

He comes across as a player who just goes through the motions during games, as well as having more than a few mistakes in him.

Friday’s game against Brighton is the first time I believe the Seagulls can really turn us over.

They are unbeaten since the 3-0 win over the Eagles at the Amex in March and as much as it pains me to say, I believe Brighton are favourites for promotion.

Having said that, we are there and anything can happen in the play-offs, as has so often been shown, and hopefully I am proved wrong.

Follow @NewsShopperSprt on Twitter for live updates from Crystal Palace's play-off semi-final games with Brighton.