The points were shared between Palace and Reading after an entertaining 90 minutes at Selhurst Park. Neil Warnock's side put in a battling performance and could have stole it right at the death with some sustained pressure on the visitor's defence.
Steve Coppell's side were forced to play the last 18 minutes with ten men when Liam Rosenior was sent off for a second bookable offence after bringing down Victor Moses on the edge of the box.
The first half was controlled in large periods by Reading in terms of possession, but they never threatened to find a way through a stubborn Eagles back four that dealt quite comfortably with the visitor's forwards.
Stephen Hunt, on as a substitue for Jimmy Kebe in the 18th minute, was doing his best to 'wind up' the Palace players with a series of unnecessary challenges on Victor Moses, Neil Danns and Clint Hill but was booked in the end by referee Andy D'Urso and pretty quiet from there on in.
Palace carved out the first chance of the half when, on three minutes, Moses showed some excellent awareness to take on his defender and then play in a deep cross for John Oster, who managed to keep it in play and knock the ball into the six yard box. It was a dangerous ball but Marcus Hahnemann managed to claim it when no Palace player followed it in.
Shortly after, a moment for the replays and pundits as Mr D'Urso pulled John Oster up for a foul on Chris Armstrong when he was put through by a neat ball from Moses. Armstrong was visibly tugging at Oster's shirt in a desperate attempt to make the tackle. But as the Palace midfielder tried to break free D'Urso blew up for the foul, much to the annoyance of the home support.
Reading's best chance came on the quarter-of-an-hour mark when central defender Andre Bikey picked the ball up at the back post from a corner and managed to get a shot away. However, it was closed down quickly and deflected over for a corner.
On 38 minutes Derry, lurking on the edge of the box, pounced on a clearance from a corner with a fizzing drive that was deflected away for a corner and then Clyne showed another string to his bow with a 30 yard drive that forced Hahnemann into a low save down to his left.
Kuqi came close, with two minutes to go before the break, to finding himself in a excellent position but his touch let him down before Stokes has a shot soon after that is saved by Hahnemann.
The second half proved to be very similar to that of the first, with Moses creating all of Palace's best chances at Reading struggled to cope with him.
And the youngster had a glorious chance right from the off when he was found all alone at the far post. Without a marker he was able to take his time to set himself and aim a first time low drive into Hahnemann's chest. The ball had that much power in it that the Reading keeper fumbled it and had to rely on his defender to clear it away.
The next effort was not for another 20 minutes as both sides continued to cancel eachother out - Reading with a techincally astute performance, Palace with one full of heart and determination.
On 65 minutes Kitson curled a dangerous strike past Julian Speroni's far post after he twisted one way then checked in on left foot to find himself enough space to get his shot away.
A minute later Moses was fed the ball on the right flank, squared up Rosenior before knocking the ball back on himself and forced the right back to bring him down. From the resulting free kick Stokes stepped up and curled an effort over the bar.
Next was a half chance for Reading substitute Kalifa Cisse. Standing at well over 6ft the central midfielder was always going to be a threat at crosses and proved as such when he glanced a header past Speroni's far post.
But Reading's afternoon took a serious turn for the worse when Rosenior, who had been ripped to pieces by Moses throughout the game, crudely brought down the Palace youngster as he threatened to break free. The foul was on the edge of the box and was Rosenior's second bookable offence. Andy D'Urso had no choice but to send him off and he was given his marching orders.
Cue some sustained Palace pressure as the home side desperately attempted to make the one man advantage count.
First, on 76 minutes, Kuqi headed a difficult chance over the bar from a deflected Moses shot before the Palace youngster again prized open the Reading defence, this time Hunt was the victim, and played in a ball that Stokes couldn't get to.
Ten minutes from time Palace then crafted an excellent counter attacking move. John Oster broke with the ball and played in Stokes down the right. The forward then cut in and laid the ball to Neil Danns who blasted a first time shot over the ball.
The pressure continued to mount on the Reading defence and it was again Victor Moses that was the architect. Taking on a tiring Hunt he took it to the byline before playing a brilliant low cross right into the six yard box. Shefki Kuqi was there but he failed to connect properly with the ball and it squirmed all the way through to eventually be cleared to safety.
In the end though the Reading's defence stood firm and held out for the final whistle. Although Palace were unable find a way through it was a performance full of positives, with the most notable individual display of young Nathaniel Clyne. The right back kept the experienced Kitson, Doyle and Hunt quiet all afternoon and rightly won the Man of the Match.
Palace will next be in action on Saturday 4th April when they travel to QPR. In the meantime Selhurst Park will be playing host to a Charity Match on Sunday 29th March between a Palace Legends XI and a Celebrity XI. To find out more and to book tickets click here.
At a glance: John Oster is brought into the starting eleven to face his old team while Lee Hills is dropped to the bench to make way for the return of Jose Fonte.
Crystal Palace: 1. Julian Speroni, 2. Matt Lawrence, 3. Clint Hill, 4. Shaun Derry, 6. Jose Fonte, 11. Victor Moses, 16. Neil Danns, 26. John Oster (28 Rui Fonte, 88), 32 Shefki Kuqi, 33. Anthony Stokes (23. Paul Ifill, 80), 43. Nathaniel Clyne
Subs: 10. Nick Carle, 15. Lee Hills, 22. Johnny Ertl,
Reading: 1. Marcus Hahnemann, 3. Chris Armstrong, 6. Brynjar Gunnarsson (4. Kalifa Cisse, 50) , 7. Marek Matejovsky (24. Shane Long, 63), 9. Kevin Doyle, 14. Jimmy Kebe (10. Stephen Hunt, 18), 15. James Harper (c), 17. Dave Kitson, 22. Liam Rosenior, 23. Andre Bikey, 29. Michael Duberry
Subs: 32. Adam Federici, 52. Glen Little
This afternoon's match was broadcast live through Palace World. Supporters who are unable to get to matches can listen live on Palace World.
This service is exclusive to Palace World subscribers and can be accessed by clicking on the Match Live Centre in the Palace World product. When in the Centre, click on the Palace commentary and you will be directed straight into BBC London or Palace Radio's commentary of the game.
If you are not a member of Palace World, you can join by clicking on the link above.
