Jobi McAnuff in action against Hull.

Palace were held to a draw against Hull despite taking the lead thanks to a Carl Fletcher strike just after half-time before Ian Ashbee equalised with a strong header after 71 minutes.

Peter Taylor named an unchanged team for the visit of his former side Hull City, but there was a return to the bench for goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly after his return from a loan spell at Aston Villa.

In blustery conditions Palace found themselves on the back foot as Hull made the early running. Playing three up front in Nicky Forster, Jon Parkin and Steve McPhee, Hull were pushing the Eagles back into their own half but fortunately they could not turn their dominance into chances.

Palace slowly got a foothold in the game though, but like Hull despite all their possession they could not create any goalscoring opportunities. In the 24th minute Hull defender Michael Turner was booked after aiming a kick at Stuart Green then in the 26th minute Leon Cort forced Hull keeper Boaz Myhill into a save with a powerful header from a Green corner.

After a slow start the game was showing some signs of life and in the 33rd minute Dougie Freedman headed straight at Myhill following a strong run and cross from Mark Kennedy.

There was a scare for Palace in the 35th minute when McPhee burst clear of the Palace defence but after being forced wide by Flinders the striker fell to the ground before being booked for diving by referee Clive Penton. The striker was then forced off through injury and he was replaced by Dean Windass, making his second debut for the club after returning on loan from Bradford City.

Just before the half-time break Hull came centimetres away from taking the lead as Scott Flinders tipped Windass' curling free-kick against the post. Luckily for the Eagles Forster was unable to divert the follow-up on target in the final action of the first period.

Palace went straight at Hull at the start of the second-half and Kennedy forced Myhill into a save after being played in by McAnuff on the left and Shefki Kuqi headed over from the Irishman's corner a few minutes later.

Hull were on the back foot and Palace took the lead in the 51st minute. Kennedy surged forward and played the ball through to McAnuff on the left who then passed the ball back for Carl Fletcher to thump an unstoppable 20-yard drive into the Holmesdale Road goal.

The Eagles could have had a second goal moments later but Kuqi, in acres of space, could only head Kennedy's cross over the bar.

Fletcher shot narrowly wide from distance in the 58th minute but Hull fought back well with Marney firing a shot over and Forster hitting the side netting after a great run. The Tigers were starting to carve out some chances so Taylor brought on Paul Ifill for his Selhurst Park debut in place of Green just past the hour mark.

Taylor made another change bringing on Tom Soares for Freedman to reinforce the midfield but as Hull pushed forward they always looked likely to score and they did in the 71st minute. Marney's corner from the right was met by Hull captain Ashbee and he made no mistake to level the scores.

The Eagles tried to hit straight back and Leon Cort saw a close range volley blocked by Myhill on the goal-line and then Kuqi's header was headed to safety by Andy Dawson.

The scene was set for a grandstand finish and Taylor introduced Clinton Morrison for Kennedy for the final few minutes. It was Hull though, who looked most likely to score in the final few minutes as Parkin forced Flinders into a low save at his near post but Palace rallied in injury time for Kuqi to strike a volley over the bar from the edge of the area.

PALACE: Flinders; Hudson, Cort, Ward, Lawrence; Green (Ifill 61), Fletcher (c), Kennedy (Morrison 81), McAnuff; Freedman (Soares 69), Kuqi.
Subs not used: Kiraly, Butterfield.
Goalscorers: Fletcher (51).

HULL: Myhill; Dawson, Turner, Delaney, Ricketts; Marney, Ashbee (c), France (Elliott 81); McPhee (Windass 37), Parkin, Forster.
Subs not used: Duke, Coles, Duffy.
Booked: Ashbee, McPhee.
Goalscorers: Ashbee (71).