FA are unable to act over Palace bust-up

Crystal Palace and Blackburn are to escape punishment for their bust-up in the tunnel at Ewood Park.

Despite angry scenes and allegations of punches being thrown at half-time during last week's match, the Football Association have insufficient evidence to charge anyone.

Referee Peter Walton reported that he and the other match officials heard raised voices but witnessed nothing, and the game's governing body have no video footage to study.

Robbie Savage was accused of starting the fracas during Blackburn's 1-0 win by allegedly hitting Palace's Wayne Routledge with his elbow. That enraged the winger's team-mates and there have been reports that manager Iain Dowie became involved.

Rovers manager Mark Hughes suggested one of the Palace staff threw a punch, while Savage protested his innocence. At least Blackburn did Palace a favour by holding West Bromwich to a 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns last night.

The point was not enough to lift Albion out of the bottom three and they remain one place below Dowie's side on goal difference.

But Bryan Robson believes his side were denied two penalties by referee Steve Bennett. The West Brom manager said: "The referee didn't help us one little bit."

Derby wasted their game in hand in the Championship play-off race by losing 1-0 at Leicester. They remain three points above West Ham and Reading with two games remaining.

Meanwhile, the FA have cleared Arsenal defender Lauren of deliberately elbowing Tottenham's Erik Edman in Monday night's north London derby at Highbury.