Terry Venables' Eagles had to be content with a point as they were held to a
draw by West Brom at Selhurst Park.
Clinton Morrison gave Palace an early lead but West Brom hit back on the hour
to keep their play-off hopes alive.
Palace started as the more threatening side and took only 10 minutes to prise
open the Baggies defence.
Andy Linighan's long searching pass was flicked on by Marcus Bent to Morrison
who closed in on keeper Phil Whitehead before shooting low into the corner from
10 yards out.
The Eagles were enjoying their best spell. Simon Roger and Morrison both went
close while at the other end for Albion Shaun Murphy wasted a free header as the
visitors pressed for an equaliser.
Indeed, the Baggies forced 10 corners in the first half as they pinned Palace
back for long spells.
Lee Hughes, Albion's prolific marksman, missed a hat-trick of chances before
the break. Kevin Miller saved on the line after Hughes failed to force home a
goalmouth scramble and then James Quinn missed a one on one against Miller but
as the ball fell loose to Hughes the Albion striker recklessly shot over the
bar.
Then right on half time Hughes missed another absolute sitter when he glanced
a header wide of the post from just a few yards out.
After the break Albion continued as the stronger side. Hughes and Quinn were
causing all sorts of problems and Miller was asked to make some desperate stops.
But on 61 minutes Miller finally slipped up to let in Albion for their
equaliser. Jamie Smith took a quick throw in back to his keeper but Miller was
far too casual on the ball and allowed Hughes to rush in to charge down his
clearance and the ball rolled into the corner of the empty net.
The game was now thrown wide open. Craig Moore headed wide for Palace and
Chinese international Fan Zhiyi shot inches wide and his fellow countryman Sun
Jihai then saw his low 15-yard shot brilliantly saved by Whitehead at the near
post.
But Albion were also looking dangerous. Hughes shot straight at Miller's legs
and Richard Sneekes and Quinn then had useful chances in a game neither side
deserved to lose.
Teams:
Crystal Palace: Miller, Jihai, Smith, Moore, Linighan,
Foster (Mullins 60), Tuttle, Zhiyi, Bent (Rizzo 77), Morrison,
Rodger (Turner 82).
Booked: Jihai.
Goals: Morrison 10.
West Brom: Whitehead, Mardon, Potter, Bortolazzi, Murphy, Carbon,
Maresca (Flynn 73), Sneekes, Quinn, Hughes, Kilbane.
Subs Not Used: De Freitas, Angel.
Booked: Carbon, Bortolazzi, Hughes.
Goals: Hughes 61.
Att: 19,137
Ref: P Taylor (Cheshunt).
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