After being unceremoniously dumped into administration in January 2010, the once safe in mid-table side were plunged into the relegation zone. Dreams of the play-offs soon turned to relegation nightmares and eyes were fixed firmly on the last day of the season - the game against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. It was always going to go down to the wire. Palace spent the remainder of the season in or just above the relegation zone and ended their penultimate game one place and two points ahead of Wednesday. A win or a draw would save them, whereas a loss would mean relegation and the very real possibility of the club being wound up. Interim boss Paul Hart played an attacking line-up with two up front and it soon paid off with a whipped corner being powerfully headed into the top of the net by Alan Lee. It wasn't long, though, before Palace were pegged back when Danny Butterfield dallied just outside the box, only to be robbed by Leon Clarke. Butterfield comically air-kicked and fell to the floor, desperately looking for the referee to bail him out. He didn't. The Palace defence dithered, and Clarke bent a superb finish past Speroni. Game on. The second half started as the first ended, with relentless Wednesday pressure, but it was Palace that took the lead when Sean Scannell squared for 20 goal hero Darren Ambrose to finish clinically from 15 yards out. Palace then endured some more pressure before Wednesday finally broke through to equalise again in the 87th minute, when Stern John lost his man, Darren Purse, who finished from close range. Game on again. Stern John's nightmare afternoon wasn't over there, however. A minute later, he was given the chance to make amends when put through on goal with Darren Ambrose in the clear with him but he fluffed his lines and shot when the pass was the better option. A tense last couple of minutes were finally brought to an end by the ref and, despite going into administration, losing their best player and having 10 points deducted, the Eagles had survived.
