Mark Hudson returns to the starting line-up for this midweek visit to the FA Cup semi-finalists as Neil Warnock reunites the captain alongside Jose Fonte at the heart of the defence. Tony Mowbray will take the FA success story but at the same time will be keen to ensure minds are kept fully focussed on a return to the top flight as they go into this game with a chance to take their place back in the top two places.
Palace started the game, as expected, with a 4-5-1 formation with James Scowcroft playing the lone man upfront. It was Albion who had the first chance of the night. On eight minutes Zoltan Gera and Kevin Phillips play a good exchange of passes which finish with Phillips shooting wide of the target.
Victor Moses is playing wide left in the same formation used to pick up a point at Bristol City and is looking dangerous as he causes Jared Hodgkiss problems with his pace.
The home side are showing a real danger on the break and could have gone ahead on 12 minutes but no one was in front of goal to make a connection on an Ishmael Miller effort across the face of goal. Just minutes later the same player nearly had a chance of his own when he just failed to get on the end of a Phillips pass.
Palace know that a huge threat on the night will come from Phillips and he showed that as he was just inches away from giving his side the breakthrough but headed into the side netting after good work from the cross provider and Albion skipper Jonathan Greening.
Palace's first real chance of the night came from a Tom Soares header which went straight at Dean Kiely in the Albion goal. The cross came in from Shaun Derry and the midfielder would have liked to have got more power on the ball but he couldnt and it was an easy take for Kiely.
The home side made their confident start to the match count with the opening goal of the night on the half hour mark. Paul Robinson made the run from the back and slid the perfect pass through to Phillips who made no mistake as he put the ball over the advancing Julian Speroni for his 20th goal of the season.
Tony Mowbray had to make an early change from the bench as Chris Brunt left proceedings to be replaced by James Morrison.
The Palace players thought they were in for an instant chance to reply from the spot when Ben Watson was bundled down inside the box but referee Peter Walton waved away the appeals. Shaun Derry played the ball through and the midfielder looked like he was in on goal but went down under a challenge although nothing was given in the visitors favour.
Two minutes of added time was called by the 4th official which saw Clinton Morrison being called into action from the bench due to an injury to Soares but no further goalmouth action as that Phillips goal seperates the sides at the break.
A further change made at the break for the home side as earlier sub James Morrison was replaced by South Korean Do-Heon Kim.
The first chance of the second period fell to Palace as Watson's free kick was floated over and Clint Hill headed just inches wide of Kiely's left hand post.
The next move brought the equaliser and it was a first senior goal for 17 year old Moses. The effort from close range was finished off like an experienced pro as it fell to him from James Scwocroft's header down and the youngster made no mistake from close range. Hill did well on the left with the perfect cross to find the striker before his assist gave the chance to the England youth international to bring the scores level.
Unfortunately that was the last action of the night for Moses as he had to leave the field just minutes later with a knock and is replaced by Sean Scannell just past the hour mark.
As earlier in the game the Palace penalty appeals are turned down as Morrison goes down in the box amongst a group of players as he looks to get on the end of a Watson free kick but Walton turns down the requests once again.
A crowd of 20,000 here at the Hawthorns are seeing a really good end to end game now in this second period with both sides capable of taking the points. Speroni was called upon to keep his side on level terms on two occasions. On 73 minutes he save a fierce drive from Miller at the second attempt and then just two minutes later does well to parry away a Kim shot as Albion have their best spell of the half.
Palace's workrate is outstanding as they battle for a valueable point and are defending for their lives. The final whistle brought about great celebration in the army of Palace fans as that point is secured and very well deserved after a second half which they dominated for long periods and stretch the unbeaten run to four games.
Teams
West Brom Kiely, Hodgkiss, Albrechtsen, Barnett, Robinson,Gera (Moore 67), Greening, Koren, Brunt (Morrison 40),Phillips, Miller, Morrison (Kim 46).
Subs Not Used: Bednar, Martis.
Crystal Palace Speroni, Lawrence, Hudson, Fonte, Hill,Soares (Morrison 45), Watson (Hughes 88), Fletcher, Derry,Moses (Scannell 61), Scowcroft.
Subs Not Used: Hills, Robinson.
Att: 20,378 Referee : Peter Walton (Northamptonshire
