Crystal Palace made sure that off field matters would not affect them on the field with a fine display and 2-0 win against Peterborough at Selhurst Park.
Neil Danns scored in either half to give Palace the win, but special mention must be made to Danny Butterfield's performance. Playing in an unfamiliar right wing position his constant running and intelligent link up play was a key part in Palace's success.
Peterborough on the other hand enjoyed some early pressure when Lee Frecklington tested Julian Speroni in the first minute with a low shot, but that was really that because when Shaun Derry saw a snap shot saved by Lewis on six minutes Palace never looked back.
On 16 minutes Butterfield almost had his reward for some exemplary running when he chased down Tom Williams at right back and robbed him in the area, but as he pulled the trigger the angle was against him and he shot into the side netting.
Peterborough then came close to taking an undeserved lead when Ryan Bennett aimed a powerful header goalward from a corner, but Nathaniel Clyne managed to head it away off the line.
Palace's number 20 caused more problems on 25 minutes when he received the ball inside the box, but as he turned onto his weaker left foot his shot was weak and Lewis gathered comfortably.
George Boyd then tested Speroni's reactions with a turn and shot from 18 yards out, while Danns sharpened his shooting boots with a left footed snap shot just over the bar minutes before giving Palace the lead.
And they were razor sharp for his opening goal on 28 minutes as he twisted to convert a Butterfield flick on with an overhead kick.
Palace finished strongly with Alan Lee seeing a snap shot from the edge of the box saved, and then Ambrose saw a curling right footed effort fly over the bar.
The second half took a while to warm up with neither side able to gain an upper hand, but on 54 minutes Butterfield almost extended Palace's lead when he met a cross in from the left three yards out but he fluffed his lines and smashed it over.
The game began to open up as Peterborough pushed forward in search of an equaliser, however they failed to carve out anything more than a Mackail-Smith volley that flew high and wide in the opening stages.
As they committed men forward Palace took advantage on 65 minutes and extended their lead with an excellent piece of counter attacking play.
Speroni collected a routine cross from the left and quickly played it out to Lee Hills. The full back then carried it into the Peterborough half and played it inside to Ambrose who saw the run of Danns behind the defence and played a delightful chip over the covering defender.
Danns controlled it with his chest and calmly passed it past Lewis.
Chris Wheldale tried to respond instantly for the Posh but his 25 yard shot was simple for Speroni, while Palace almost exended their lead with another counter attack on 69 minutes.
Clyne started it with a brillant first time pass to Ambrose, who then found Butterfield with a reverse pass through the defence.
Lewis came out to close him down, and as Butterfield tried to go round him he managed a fingertip to push him wide. Choosing to ignore the support of Alan Lee he tried to flick the ball over Lewis but instead found the side netting.
Peterborough showed that they could still be a threat when Boyd turned and shot brilliantly 15 yards out, but Julian Speroni was equal to it and parried it away. He then got up quickly to put pressure on the follow up that Reuben Reid put wide.
Palace continued to push for the third and Nick Carle saw a right footed effort over the bar, while substitute Kieran Djilali almost found Calvin Andrew with a low cross in the box.
In the end the two Neil Danns goals were enough and Palace saw out a comfortable but important win that the Palace players celebrated by applauding all stands in the ground from the centre circle before exiting to a chorus of "There's only one Neil Warnock!"
Attendance : 14, 699
There are two changes from Wednesday's game at St James' Park with Alan Lee brought in to replace Calvin Andrew and Claude Davis takes Johnny Ertl's place.
On the bench there is a space for Academy goalkeeper Charlie Mann, while Sean Scannell has recovered sufficiently from his hamstring injury to claim a substitute place.
Crystal Palace: 1. Julian Speroni; 2. Nathaniel Clyne; 3. Clint Hill; 4. Shaun Derry; 7. Darren Ambrose (14. Sean Scannell, 88); 8. Neil Danns; 10. Nick Carle; 15. Lee Hills (21. Kieran Djilali, 70); 19. Alan Lee (18. Calvin Andrew, 70); 20. Danny Butterfield; 24. Claude Davis;
Subs: -17. Matt Lawrence; 26. Kieron Cadogan; 28. James Comley; 35. Charlie Mann
Peterborough: 1. Joe Lewis; 2. Kerrea Gilbert; 3. Tom Williams; 6. Charlie Lee; 8. Lee Frecklington (9. Aaron Mclean, 58); 10. George Boyd (cpt); 12. Craig Mackail-Smith (35. Reuben Reid, 72); 18. Chris Whelpdale; 29. Ryan Bennett; 33. Josh Simpson; 36. Jake Livermore
Subs: 7. Paul Coutts; 13. James McKeown; 14. Tommy Rowe; 20. Ben Wright; 34. Exodus Geohaghon
