This Monday night encounter sees Bristol City come into the game knowing that the three points will take them top of the championship whilst Palace look to end their recent run of no wins in four matches.

Neil Warnock makes four changes to the starting line up to try and change that stat including giving Shefki Kuqi his first start since his return from the loan spell at Fulham. Clint Hill returns at left back as Lee Hills plays in a more advance role than he has been use to in his short first team career.

A pre-match floodlight failure delayed the start to proceedings but when it did get under way it was Julian Speroni who was the first keeper called into action.  Seven minutes into the action and Nick Carle robbed his man and ran clear at goal but the 'keeper saved well as he turned the ball around for City's first corner of the evening.

The keeper was called upon again eight minutes later, this time to make a comfortable save from Dele Adebola after Jamie McAllister had done well down the left hand side providing a good cross for the striker.

Two early cautions in the opening half an hour have seen cautions shown by referee Richard Beeby to Clint Hill and Matt Lawrence.

Palace's first real effort on goal came on the 30 minute mark as Kuqi picked up a loose ball and unleashed a fierce drive from outside the box but it didn't trouble the keeper as Adriano Basso watched it go over the bar.

The remainder of the half saw Ben Watson trying his luck with a lob but it easily fell to ground without causing any danger and at the other end Adebola saw a header go straight at Speroni as the first forty five ended goalless.

Palace had the first effort on goal at the start of the second period as Kuqi forced Basso to turn his shot around the post. From the corner the keeper brought off a fine save from a Mark Hudson header in the opening minutes of the second period to deny the defender as the ball looked destined for the roof of the net.

Just under a thousand Palace fans have made the journey and on 56 minutes they saw another good effort for their side. Kuqi picked up the through ball from Tom Soares just inside the box and his shot was just inches wide as the visitors enjoyed a good start to the half.

That start got even better just after the hour mark when Hills volleyed the ball into the corner of the net for his first goal in Palace colours. A Danny Butterfield throw in was headed on by Kuqi which eventually fell to the 17 year old who made no mistake with his volley from 12 yards out to give his side the lead.

Two minutes after getting the advantage Speroni kept his side ahead with an excellent close range save from Ivan Sproule as the 'keeper somehow put the ball over the bar when it looked to set to be an equaliser for the home side.

Gary Johnson made changes from the bench as Lee Trundle and Darren Byfield were introduced for City and Sean Scannell came on for Palace.

The visitors will need to defend well in the remainder of the game if they are to take maximum points and  were thankful that Adebola didn't get a touch to a cross from McIndoe and Lawrence went in well to deny the ex-Palace man again to head the ball over and away from danger.

Further changes from both benches as Warnock swapped James Scowcroft for Kuqi and Johnson sent on Tamas Vasko to try and get something from this game.

Late drama in the final five minutes as the home side are awarded a penalty as Lawrence is adjudged to have fouled Byfield and Referee Beeby awarded a penalty. Speroni produced a superb double save from the spot kick, firstly denying Orr and then again from the rebound. 

The Palace team looked to have done enough but suffered heartbreak in the final seconds of injury time as Hills goal was cancelled out with Lee Johnson's corner headed home by Jamie McCombe to give a share of the spoils to the City when all looked lost.

A result that the Palace travelling support  would have settled for at the start but it looked set as the game went on to be more but that cruel header at the death denyed Warnock's brave side.

Teams:

Bristol City Basso, Orr, McCombe, Fontaine (Vasko 84),McAllister, Sproule (Byfield 69), Johnson, Elliott,Carle (Trundle 69), McIndoe, Adebola.

Subs Not Used: Weale, Skuse.

Booked: Carle.

Crystal Palace Speroni, Butterfield, Hudson, Hills, Lawrence,Soares (Scannell 69), Hill, Derry (Fonte 85), Watson, Fletcher,Kuqi (Scowcroft 79).

Subs Not Used: Morrison, Ifill.

Booked: Hill, Lawrence, Soares, Scowcroft, Hudson.

Att: 16,446   Referee : Richard Beeby (Northamptonshire).