Crystal Palace made light of the goal that never was at the weekend as they beat Ipswich 3-1.
Ambrose the star as Palace claim impressive win
Crystal Palace made light of the goal that never was at the weekend as they came away from Ipswich with an impressive 3-1 win.
Darren Ambrose returned to haunt his former club with a virtuoso display that included an eye-catching two-goal salvo.
The Eagles were embroiled in controversy at the weekend when Freddie Sears' goal against Bristol City was not given.
However, manager Neil Warnock's fury turned to delight as two goals from Ambrose and another from Neil Danns left Ipswich still looking for their first league win of the season.
Ambrose put Palace in front with his first league goal since March 2008 just after half-time and doubled their lead moments later with a stunning strike.
Ipswich had a lifeline when Owen Garvan's cross found Alex Bruce who headed in but Ambrose crossed for Danns to seal victory for Palace.
The result gave Palace their first league win of the season and left Ipswich boss Roy Keane with plenty to ponder.
Palace began the match with a lot of frustration to get out of their systems and made a flying start.
Off to a flyer
With only six minutes gone Danny Butterfield's cross picked out Paddy McCarthy but his header was superbly kept out by Ipswich goalkeeper Richard Wright.
Jonathan Walters headed over for the Tractor Boys but Palace were dominating and Sears, who was at the centre of the controversy at the weekend, shot wide from 12 yards.
It has been a difficult start to the season for Ipswich but the emergence of Connor Wickham has been a major plus and the teenager looked impressive once again, bringing a decent save out of Speroni.
However, Wickham infuriated Palace with half-time approaching when his challenge on Speroni resulted in the Argentinian keeper temporarily swallowing his tongue.
A lengthy delay ensued but Speroni managed to stay on the pitch and superbly tipped Liam Trotter's 30-yard drive round the post to keep the score goalless at half-time.
Palace should have been ahead at the break but they did take a deserved lead four minutes after half-time when Alan Lee's cross found Ambrose and his scuffed effort went past Wright.
Ipswich were rattled by the goal and Ambrose doubled Palace's lead almost immediately when he embarked on a run and cut inside before firing an unstoppable shot into the top right-hand corner.
Keane responded by sending on Garvan and Jonathan Stead and the latter thought he had given the home side a lifeline but his strike was ruled out for offside.
However, Ipswich were back in it moments later when Lee Martin's corner was cleared by Jose Fonte into the path of Garvan who crossed for Bruce to head in from close range.
The game completely opened up and Bruce made a superb goal-line block to keep out Fonte's effort as Palace looked to restore the two-goal advantage.
With 69 minutes gone they did just that when Ambrose's corner was cleared back to him and his pinpoint cross to the far post found Danns who headed in.
Ipswich tried to find a way back and Fonte cleared a header from Stead off the line as Palace held on.
