The Eagles battled to a 0-0 draw at home on Saturday against Burnley after playing the remaining 38 minutes with just nine men on the field.
Neil Warnock's side started the brighter at sunny Selhurst with Paddy McCarthy registering the game's first shot on target with just over five minutes played after some clever interlinking play within the midfield area.
Nick Carle started the move when he passed the ball wide to debutant Leandre Griffit, the Frenchman hit a cross to James Scowcroft who with his back to goal passed to McCarthy who struck a first time shot into Brian Jensen's arms.
The Eagles were back on the attack minutes later when Griffit found Tom Soares at the back post. After controlling the ball with his chest the Academy product looked set to convert from 5 yards but was stopped by his opposing full backs out-stretched leg.
Griffit again proved his skill by evading the right back on the 25th minute and crossed the ball into the box. John Oster was unable to get to the loose ball before it was cleared by the visitors back-line.
With 33 minutes on the clock Griffit collected the ball on the left wing as Scowcroft sprinted into the box, the young Frenchman shaped to cross but as the ball left his foot, goalkeeper Jensen moved across to the near post and just stopped the ball from finding the back of the net.
Chris Eagles almost caught Speroni off-guard on the brink of half time when his free kick to the top right corner had the Argentine back-peddling but he safely caught the ball and ensured the score remained goalless at the break.
The second half set the game into light as referee Ian Williamson gave two Palace players his marching orders.
Scowcroft was dismissed from the field of play for a second yellow card after he was adjudged to have caught Steven Caldwell with an elbow.
Paddy McCarthy,John Oster and Shaun Derry all entered the book for dissent as they voiced their disappointment at the referee's decision.
Warnock quickly made a tactical change to fill the gap by the departed Scowcroft with Oster making way for Calvin Andrew.
Derry's first booking for dissent proved decisive minutes later when his tackle on Wade Elliott on the halfway line was deemed worthy of a second yellow and the Eagles captain departed the field.
Another tactical substitution ensued, this time the impressive Griffit making way for Jose Fonte with just under 10 minutes played in the second half.
A penalty should have been given on the hour for the home side when Calvin Andrew chased a loose ball down. As he ran into the box Mike Duff appeared to elbow the former Luton striker out of the way and allow Jensen to clear his lines, leaving Andrew to pick himself up in the box.
Kevin McDonnell could have put the visitors ahead when he collected the ball on the edge of the box, but his attempt deflected off of a Eagles player for a corner kick.
Martin Paterson should have scored with 20 minutes left on the clock after a cross from Wade Elliott found the striker eight yards from goal, but he could only shoot over the woodwork.
Burnley did get the ball into the Eagles net on the 75th minute but was disallowed by the referee after Chris McCann was judged to have impeded Speroni.
With 12 minutes left to play Australian international Carle left the field to be replaced by Kieran Djilali for his home league debut whilst former Eagle Ade Akinbiyi replaced Paterson.
Fonte produced a sublime defensive tackle on the 82nd minute taking all of the ball but the referee blew his whistle to give a free kick to the visitors.Clint Hill blocked the following free kick with a superb tackle and got to his feet quickly to launch an attack down the left. A pass to Fonte saw the Portuguese player cross into the box but Djilali was unable to get anything on the ball.
With seconds left on the clock the Eagles conceded a corner and after initially clearing the ball man of the match winner Julian Speroni somehow palmed a 20 yard shot away after coming through a crowd of bodies and ensured the Eagles left the pitch with a point.
Even the home win was not registered the Palace fans would have gone home happy with the commitment shown by the nine men after those two dismissals and came away with another home clean sheet.
