The experienced centre-back was restored to the starting XI for the visit of the Seagulls and defended stoutly in the first-half.
In the second, Tomkins turned goalscorer, stooping to head in from close range after Robert Sanchez was unable to hold Michael Olise’s set-piece delivery.
Tomkins reflected at full-time: “For the fans, it’s the biggest game of the year, so it’s nice to come out with a point.
“They give us a good game every time they play us. Especially at Selhurst Park, it’s always a good game, and they’ve got good players and have been playing really well at the moment. A point was a reward for how hard we worked today.
“We knew it was going to be tough because it’s always hard to play against a team full of confidence, and any game in the Premier League’s tough, so we got in their faces today, gave it a good go, and a point was a nice reward for us.
“You have to [be aggressive]. You get the crowd going. It’s one of the biggest games of the season for us.”