The spirit of crisis-torn Crystal Palace matched that of champions elect Sunderland as they battled out a draw at Selhurst Park.

The players who had threatened strike action last week because of unpaid wages opted to give their all for the Eagles' loyal supporters.

And their decision paid off when Clinton Morrison's first-half equaliser secured them a point after Kevin Phillips' inevitable early strike.

Both Sunderland and Palace are currently in tremendous form - the Wearsiders have five wins from five and the Palace four from five.

It was Palace who started the better team with Thomas Sorensen called upon several times to steady the Sunderland defence.

But the Wearsiders composed themselves and gradually to assert their experience.

On 16 minutes Phillips should have opened the scoring but he blasted Niall Quinn's knockdown over the bar.

At the other end Sun Jihai curled a 20-yard screamer just past the upright but it was Sunderland who drew first blood.

Allan Johnston's inswinging corner caught Kevin Miller in no man's land and Phillips, totally unmarked, headed powerfully into the roof of the net.

But Sorensen had to make a magnificent save to deny Fan Zhiyi replying with an immediate equaliser.

The Chinese international struck a ferocious shot from 25 yards which Sorensen somehow turned round the post.

But on 34 minutes Palace were deservedly back on terms.

Fan Zhiyi fed Stephen Thomson on the edge of the box whose shot hit his own team-mate Leon McKenzie before falling into the path of Clinton Morrison who slotted the loose ball home.

After the break Sunderland dominated as they searched for all three points.

In the space of five minutes Nicky Summerbee set up Quinn with two clear headers but the tall striker amazingly missed both of them.

Then Hayden Mullins was forced to cut out a Summerbee cross from under his own crossbar before Quinn headed against the bar himself with another free header.

Then eight minutes from time Johnston crossed to Summerbee who from 10 yards out volleyed straight at Miller who pulled off a breathtaking reflex save.

Palace defended with determination and in numbers to survive for a point - whether they can survive off the pitch is another matter.

Teams:

Crystal Palace: Miller, Jihai, Petric, Austin, Woozley, Thomson, Foster, Zhiyi, McKenzie, Morrison, Mullins.

Subs Not Used: Burton, Martin, Carlisle.

Booked: Petric, Jihai.

Goals: Morrison 34.

Sunderland: Sorensen, Makin (Holloway 68), Gray, Ball, Melville, Butler, Summerbee, Clark, Quinn, Phillips, Johnston.

Subs Not Used: Bridges, Dichio.

Booked: Phillips, Quinn.

Goals: Phillips 23.

Att: 22,096

Ref: A D'Urso (Billericay).