Third-placed Sheffield United rescued a point with a late Steve Kabba goal against his former club to maintain their strong challenge for a Division One play-off place.

But the Blades, with one eye on next weekend's FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal, failed to show the sparkle that has made them such a formidable side and Palace will feel aggrieved that they did not hang on.

Palace, with only two wins in their last 13 league games, took the lead through Dele Adebola, and though Tony Popovic's own goal brought the sides level, Noel Whelan restored the home side's advantage before half-time and it stayed that way until Kabba's 87th-minute strike.

In a patchy opening spell Palace showed their teeth when Whelan got in a shot from close range that United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny did well to divert around the post.

They went ahead after 15 minutes and it was a scrappy effort, with the United defence at fault as they failed to get in a strong enough challenge before Adebola struck a low shot past Kenny and into the net.

The celebrations were short-lived as the home side conceded a bad equaliser in the 21st minute when big striker Wayne Allison squared the ball across the Palace box and Popovic - back in the side after missing three matches with a calf injury - stuck out a leg and deflected it past Alex Kolinko.

Whelan restored the lead after 28 minutes and again the United defence looked out of sorts as the Middlesbrough striker shrugged off a challenge just inside the box before firing in a shot that beat Kenny for the second goal of his loan spell.

United forced a couple of corners early in the second half but did little to threaten an equaliser and boss Neil Warnock threw on Carl Asaba and Mark Rankine with just over 20 minutes left in an attempt to spice up his attack.

Palace came closest to a goal, however, with Popovic getting in a close-range effort that Kenny managed to parry and substitute Steven Thomson knocking a shot over the bar.

But with three minutes left the home side paid for their failure to clear a United attack as Kabba - a Palace player earlier this season - pounced to equalise on the half-volley.

Teams

Crystal Palace: Kolinko, Butterfield, Symons, Popovic, Borrowdale, Mullins, Derry, Gray, Hunt (Freedman 62), Adebola (Black 84), Whelan (Thomson 62).

Subs Not Used: Berthelin, Watson.

Booked: Mullins, Whelan, Derry.

Goals: Adebola 15, Whelan 28.

Sheff Utd: Kenny, Jagielka (Cas 45), Murphy, Page, Kozluk, Montgomery (Rankine 68), McCall, Tonge, Ndlovu, Allison (Asaba 68), Kabba.

Subs Not Used: Peschisolido, Windass.

Booked: Page.

Goals: Popovic 21 og, Kabba 87.

Att: 15,377

Ref: S Dunn (Avon).