Crystal Palace 1 Middlesbrough 0

DARREN Ambrose scored his tenth goal of the season to hand Palace a much needed victory over a lacklustre Middlesbrough side.

Ambrose struck just after the hour mark to hand Neil Warnock’s side all three points.

It wasn’t the best of games as a spectacle but that won’t bother the home support as they head in to the two week international break celebrating a timely victory.

A slow game almost got off to the quickest of starts as Ambrose went close to adding to his impressive season’s tally early on swerving a free-kick just past the post from 25 yards.

Neil Danns then screwed a left footed shot wide of goal from the edge of the box.

Boro’s first opportunity came when Sean St Ledge played a nicely timed pass into Leroy Lita, but Jose Fonte slid into a challenge to prevent Lita a shooting opportunity.

The visitors came closer minutes later when Adam Johnson set up Marcus Bent inside the box but the much travelled striker sliced horribly wide.

The fans inside Selhurst then witnessed the rarest of things – an error by Julian Speroni. The Argentinian shot stopper fluffed a kick straight into the path of Johnson, and Danny Butterfield was forced to bring down the flying winger, picking up a yellow card for his troubles.

Throughout there wasn’t much between the sides and the first goal was always going to be crucial.

After half an hour Bent found Lita in the box but the ball ricocheted off the former Reading man and away for a goal kick.

Back came Palace. Butterfied whipped a nice cross into the area and Alan Lee headed inched wide of the post.

Freddie Sears was looking to impress after his recall to the side and made a number of encouraging runs. One of which saw him nip inside Justin Hoyte - the former Arsenal full back handled the ball on the ground and was cautioned.

The first meaningful action of the second half saw Lita waste a wonderful opportunity for the visitors.

An Ambrose corner was cleared and all of a sudden Boro had a breakaway with four players flying forward and only Butterfield defending. However, Lita chose to go it alone rather than square it to one of his team mates in a much better position. The Boro forward eventually ran it too wide and hit a weak shot across the goal. It was a let off for Palace.

Sears continued to look lively and twice he beat his defender and delivered good crosses into the box, but the Boro defence cleared comfortably on both occasions.

The crucial breakthrough eventually came in the 64th minute and it was no surprise who it came from. The Eagles defended a Boro corner and countered quickly. Lee hit a good cross field pass from the right and Danns out leaped Hoyte to win the flick on. Ambrose had made great ground to stay up with play and was all alone in the box when the ball fell to his feet, he made no mistake finishing coolly to give Palace the lead.

The visitors responded to the set back and Speroni was forced to claw away a David Wheater header from Johnson’s corner.

Gary O’Neil then wasted a glorious chance to level the scores. The midfielder raced clear through the middle, but Speroni stood tall and palmed away O’Neil’s attempted chip.

For all their effort Boro weren’t creating an awful lot of chances.

With time running out substitute Jonathon Franks hit his shot straight at Speroni after Bent had won the flick on. It was the last clear opportunity Gordon Strachan’s side had of getting a point.

The Eagles were forced to withstand some late Boro pressure but they saw the game out with some typical dogged defending to seal an important victory.

Palace: Speroni, Butterfield, Hill, Fonte, Davis, Derry, Ertl, Ambrose, Danns (Carle 80), Lee, Sears (N’Diaye 88). Subs: Moses, Scannell, Clyne, John, Djilali.

Middlesbrough: Jones, Hoyte (Arca 68), Lita (Franks 76), St Ledger, O'Neil, Johnson, Bent, Grounds, Williams, Wheater, Osbourne. Subs: Yeates, Emnes, Coyne, Bennett, McMahon.