Relegation-threatened Crewe fought back from two goals down to clinch an improbable draw at Crystal Palace.

Andrew Johnson's first-half double looked to have put Palace in total command, but the home side wasted numerous chances - and were punished in the second period by Luke Rodgers' strike and Kenny Lunt's penalty.

Palace will draw some consolation from clinching a Coca-Cola Championship play-off place with this point, but their finishing will have to be much better if they are to win promotion via that route.

Crewe began the day five points adrift of safety and this draw might not be enough to keep them up, but they will take considerable heart from their comeback.

Palace created chances from the start, and in the eighth minute the unmarked Dougie Freedman mis-kicked 12 yards out when he should have scored.

Five minutes later, Emmerson Boyce headed Tom Soares' right-wing cross over from close range.

Crewe did have their moments in attack, and Billy Jones should have done better than stab the ball wide of the near post from five yards after he had been picked out by Tony Grant's excellent through-ball.

Jones' misery was complete six minutes later when, after his fellow defender Stephen Foster had mistakenly headed Marco Reich's left-wing cross into the path of Johnson, he could only help Johnson's goalbound effort into his own net from less than a yard out.

Palace should have made it two shortly afterwards but Ross Turnbull saved brilliantly at his near post from Reich after Johnson's right-wing cross had found its way to the German.

Freedman then made up for previous errors with a delightful back-heel to Johnson in the 44th minute, which allowed the former England striker to race clear, round Turnbull and calmly slot in his second goal.

Palace continued to dominate after the break. Soares' deflected shot hit the post, and Mark Hudson, Michael Hughes, Freedman, Soares and Boyce all went close.

But the home side were made to pay for being so wasteful in the 67th minute when Rodgers beat the offside trap before drilling Lee Bell's pass past Gabor Kiraly from 18 yards.

Remarkably, Crewe then drew level after 72 minutes when Soares was ruled to have handled inside the area and Lunt guided the penalty into the bottom-left corner.

Johnson had a chance to win the match nine minutes from full-time, but he was denied six yards out by another save from the impressive Turnbull.

Teams

Crystal Palace Kiraly, Boyce, Ward, Hudson, Borrowdale,Soares, Watson, Hughes, Johnson, Freedman,Reich (Leigertwood 75).

Subs Not Used: Granville, Macken, Morrison, Speroni.

Goals: Johnson 28, 45.

Crewe Turnbull, Otsemobor, Foster, Bougherra (McCready 45),Billy Jones, Bell, Lunt, Grant, Steve Jones, Taylor, Rodgers.

Subs Not Used: Vaughan, Tomlinson, Varney, Johnson.

Goals: Rodgers 68, Lunt 79 pen.

Att: 18,358

Ref: M Russell (Hertfordshire).