Lee rescues Palace

Alan Lee's close-range goal earned the 10 men of Crystal Palace a 1-1 draw at London Road and ensured Peterborough's slow return to the Coca-Cola Championship continued.

Shaun Batt put Darren Ferguson's side ahead early in the second half before Lee bundled in a leveller.

Palace defender Paddy McCarthy was sent off with 16 minutes remaining for a second booking but the visitors survived to emerge with a point.

Ferguson's side remain without a win in the league this season but were the better side throughout a poor game.

After an uneventful first half, the home side forged ahead in the 53rd minute through Batt when the winger latched onto a superb pass by George Boyd and surged past Clint Hill to plant a powerful effort across Julian Speroni from just inside the area.

It was a fine finish from the former Fisher Athletic man but he was guilty of squandering an equally good chance just two minutes later, with Boyd again the provider.

Palace equalised with a scrappy goal in the 64th minute when a Darren Ambrose corner was not dealt with and McCarthy sent a header back across the six-yard box, allowing Lee to prod the ball over the line from two yards out.

Posh substitute Tommy Rowe then carved open the defence with a positive run, but Mackail-Smith was unable to locate a team-mate with the cross from the left.

McCarthy was then dismissed for a second booking as referee Kevin Friend lost patience with his game-long duel with Mackail-Smith.

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