A remarkable own goal by Birmingham's Gary Rowett with the last kick of the match earned Palace a point at Selhurst Park.

A dramatic finish saw Martin Grainger and Rowett getting in each other's way and as Rowett attempted to clear his line the ball sailed over Kevin Poole's head and into the empty net from 20-yards out.

Birmingham, unbeaten in seven matches, were given a difficult time by Palace in the first half as the home side missed chance after chance. On six minutes Wayne Carlisle, making his debut, missed an absolute sitter after Lee Bradbury kept the ball in play and rolled it perfectly into the goalmouth.

But the Palace youngster was unable to compose himself and shot wide of an open goal.

Bradbury and Leon McKenzie were causing all sorts of problems as Palace kept up the pressure. Bradbury squeezed a shot that went narrowly wide and McKenzie should have done better when well-placed.

Birmingham were making little progress and had only a tame header from Michael Johnson to show for their efforts. The best chances continued to fall Palace's way but they were unable to finish their good approach work.

McKenzie headed over the bar from Jamie Fullarton's corner and shortly after Yugoslavian Gordan Petric saw his close-range shot clip the crossbar.

Then just before the break Bradbury was unlucky with a well-placed header which Poole brilliantly saved at the foot of the post. Four minutes into the half and Birmingham were ahead with a controversial penalty.

Martin O'Connor played a short pass into the path of Paul Furlong and the Blues striker backed into Craig Moore. Referee Clive Wilkes judged Moore had fouled Furlong and Palace protests Furlong stepped up with the perfect penalty, driving the ball low past Kevin Miller's outstretched left hand.

Peter Ndlovu then missed a good chance to put Birmingham further ahead but Furlong should have wrapped it up for Birmingham when only a yard out he headed over the bar.

Palace put on some late pressure, Petric forcing Poole into a fine save and Bradbury and McKenzie both had shots blocked before that bizarre finish which robbed Birmingham of three precious promotion points.

Teams:

Crystal Palace: Miller, Smith, Petric, Moore, Linighan, Carlisle, Foster (Thomson 77), Fullarton, Mullins, McKenzie (Evans 81), Bradbury.

Subs Not Used: Woozley.

Booked: McKenzie, Bradbury.

Goals: Rowett 90 og.

Birmingham: Poole, Rowett, Ablett (Grainger 23), Johnson, Charlton, McCarthy, Robinson, O'Connor, Ndlovu (Forster 85), Furlong, Adebola (Hughes 46).

Booked: Johnson.

Goals: Furlong 50 pen.

Att: 15,996

Ref: C Wilkes (Gloucester).