Peter Taylor named an unchanged side for this trip to the North West as they looked to build on their two previous unbeaten games. Dougie Freedman, who came off the bench last week to turn the game, had to miss this one with a thigh strain picked up in training.

Palace showed their intentions from the start as Paul Dickov picked up on a James Scowcroft header to have an early chance but his shot was saved by Gabor Kiraly even though the referee Trevor Kettle gave a goal kick to the surprise of all the players.

It was not long before though before Palace did take an early advantage. Tom Soares was fouled by Alan Mahon and from the resulting free kick the training ground practise paid off. On four minutes Ben Watson took the spot kick from the right hand side just outside the box and Mark Hudson headed past his former team mate from close range to give the visitors the lead.

Palace nearly extended their lead six minutes later when Dickov was through again but shot straight at Kiraly after another assist from Scowcroft.

In a hectic start to the match Steve Cotterill soon saw his side back on level terms. A Robbie Blake free kick on 13 minutes was whipped in with pace goalwards and with the faintest of touches Michael Duff put the ball past a diving Julian Speroni who couldn't do anything about the close range effort.

The 'keeper was soon back in action just before the twenty minute mark as winger Karl Lafferty's fierce drive from distance was held by Speroni at the second attempt.

The first caution of the afternoon came on 36 minutes from Kettle to Mahon for another foul on Soares as the game went through a quiet spell and goal chances were limited which was the reverse of how the game had got under way.

The home side suffered a blow in the closing stages of the half when they lost their goalscorer through injury who was replaced by John Spicer.

In added time of the first half Lafferty curled a tremendous effort just wide of Speroni's left hand post from just outside the box but it was the wrong side of the post and both sides went into the break all square.

The first goal attempt came just three minutes into the second half as Mahon shot with power but Speroni turned it around the post for the first corner of the half.

Watson had Palace's best chance of the early exhanges as he picked up a loose ball in midfield and went past a couple of defenders before shooting inches wide of Kiraly's right hand post.

Taylor made his first changes of the afternoon when Stuart Green was replaced by Jeff Hughes whilst Besian Idrizaj came on for Dickov.

Just before the hour mark the Clarets had a great chance to take the lead when Andy Gray failed to convert from just in front of goal as John Spicer put a shot across the face of goal but the striker somehow put the ball over bar. The forward was not long on the pitch after that miss as he was replaced by former Eagle Ade Akinbiyi along with Steve Jones replacing Lafferty.

Blake showed his pace and neat footwork as he made his way into the box but his shot went just over the bar as the home side pushed for their second home victory of the season.

Clinton Morrison was introduced from the bench for Scowcroft as he continues to look for his 100^th goal in Palace colours.

Blake had another near miss as he shot from 20 yards with the effort going just inches over Speroni's bar.

The pace of the game stepped up as the minutes were going down, Kiraly came out to deny Morrison whilst at the other end Wade Elliott hit the bar and then in added time Morrison put a chance just over as both sides had a late scramble to try and take maximum points.

That final goal wouldn't come though and Palace took a point away from Turf Moor and extend their unbeaten run in the first of two tough away trips in four days.

Teams:

Burnley Kiraly, Duff (Spicer 39), Carlisle, Caldwell, Jordan,Elliott, Alexander, Blake, Mahon, Gray (Jones 70),Lafferty (Akinbiyi 70).

Subs Not Used: Jensen, Unsworth.

Booked: Mahon.

Crystal Palace Speroni, Butterfield, Hudson, Cort, Craig,Soares, Fletcher, Watson, Green (Hughes 60),Scowcroft (Morrison 76), Dickov (Idrizaj 60).

Subs Not Used: Flinders, Lawrence.

Booked: Idrizaj.

Attendance : 10,711   Referee: Trevor Kettle (Rutland).