Mowbray named an unchanged side for the first time in the season, looking for a fourth consecutive away victory.  Albion got off to a flying start, on top for the opening minutes of the game and one goal up after only eight minutes.  Baggies skipper Jonathan Greening curled a cross straight into the box, where Palace captain Hudson glanced the ball into the net under extreme pressure from Cesar. 

It should have been two 7 minutes later when Teixeira found Gera in the centre of the park.  Finding Koren with a perfect pass, his 25 yard strike was just wide of the target.  The Baggies were doing exactly what they have become accustomed to doing in recent weeks, passing and controlling everything to their own style.   

But their lead was to last only 13 minutes.  In the 21^st minute a Watson free kick found the Albion defence napping.  The ball came high into the box where Jose Fonte controlled and teed up for an unmarked Morrison who wasted no time in firing into the Baggies net. One each at the midpoint of the first half. 

This time it was Palace who might have found the net straight away.  Morrison again making himself busy to cross to strike partner Scowcroft.  Scowcroft got the better of Leon Barnett, but his finish was off target and headed out for a goal kick. In the 28^th minute West Brom should have regained the lead. 

A swift counter attack saw Gera find Teixeira, who played a perfect ball to the feet of Bednar.  With just the keeper to beat Bednar fired his shot off the crossbar from 12 yards.  It was Brunt who gathered the ball on the rebound, playing in Teixeira who could only put the ball out of play as he fired over. 

Albion were once again to struggle with a Watson free kick, but this time danger was averted when Scowcroft could only manage to sail his shot over the bar, although he had Kiely beat.  In the 41^st minute clever play between Morrison and Scowcroft teed up Watson for a shot on goal, but his 18 yard strike brought Kiely into action as he curled it  round the left hand post.  Despite all the goal action the scores remained level at half time. 

Half Time: Crystal Palace 1-1 West Bromwich Albion 

At half time Mowbray made a change. Bringing Craig Beattie on to replace Brunt and partner Bednar up front.  Teixeira moved to the left of midfield to cover.  Three minutes into the half Palace were forced into a change when Morrison limped off the field to be replaced with Dickov. 

Albion took their time to adjust to the changes the substitution had made, but it was referee Uriah Rennie who caused the biggest confusion when it looked to all that Cesar had been fouled by James Scowcroft.  As everyone else stood still waiting for a whistle that never came, Watson continued play and fired in a 15 yard screamer at Kiely.   

Clearly fazed by the confusion Albion seemed to be at sixes and sevens, and Palace threatened again just moments later.  Dickov played a dangerous cross across the face of goal, only to miss all three Palace players in waiting. 

In the 63^rd minute Mowbray made another change bringing MacDonald on for Koren.  But the change did little to settle Albion, and it was Palace who remained on top.  There was danger for Albion again when Greening failed to clear a corner properly, allowing Watson to shoot on goal through a sea of bodies in the box.  Kiely did well to gather the ball. 

There was a rare second half chance for Albion a few minutes later when Cesar missed narrowly from a Greening corner kick, but Palace were straight back down the other end to continue their assault on the Baggies goal.  Tom Soares got the better of Robinson to get in a shot on goal, although Kiely was more than equal to the shot. 

Finally, with 15 minutes remaining Albion found themselves to finish strongly and allow the travelling fans a period of relaxation.  In the 75^th minute Beattie should have put Albion in front when he missed an open goal from a Teixeira cross.  MacDonald paced down the loose ball and then himself missed from 18 yards. 

In the 82^nd minute MacDonald put in a dangerous cross to Beattie, but the cross was too high for him and he flicked the ball out of play when Bednar might have been in a better scoring position.  It proved to be the Baggies final chance of the game, and they travelled home with a point.  A win would have put Albion on top of the table, but for now they remain in second spot, just one point behind leaders Watford, and two points clear of third placed Wolves. 

Full Time: Crystal Palace 1-1 West Bromwich Albion 

Hudson (OG 8) 

Morrison (21) 

Attendance: 15,247

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