Town and Palace fought out an entertaining 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park on Tuesday night. The Eagles went ahead through Andy Johnson in the first half before the Blues struck back in the second period through former Palace player Marcus Bent.

Unusually, Town lined-up in a white kit, both their regular strips clearly deemed to clash with Palace's red and blue stripes. Darren Ambrose passed his fitness test and started in a midfield containing Matt Holland. Richard Naylor took his place in a back four for the first time with Chris Makin at left-back.

The first chance of the half fell to Palace, a Danny Granville freekick going over Andy Marshall's goal after a foul on Andy Johnson by Thomas Gaardsøe.

On nine Town went close, Darren Bent breaking away down the right, chasing a Jim Magilton pass. He cut in and hit a shot which was well-saved by Cedric Berthelin.

From the resulting corner Marcus Bent headed on Magilton's kick and Marcus Bent's header goalwards was again saved impressively by Berthelin.

Ten minutes later Town were behind. Andy Marshall kicked poorly into a midfield area dominated by Palace players. The ball was played wide to Tommy Black and former Arsenal youngster sent in a deep cross for an unmarked Andy Johnson who sent a looping header over Andy Marshall and into the net.

The home side came close to a second almost immediately. Johnson, impressive all half, burst away on the left as Palace took a freekick quickly. His low cross went virtually along the Town goal-line but Black just failed to get a touch and the Town defence cleared up.

In the 22nd minute Darren Ambrose, struggling all game with his knee injury, left the field, Matt Richards taking his place in the left, wide of a front three, deeper than Marcus Bent with Darren Bent on the left.

On 37 Julian Gray broke down the left and played the ball to Johnson. The former Birmingham player sent in the ball for Shaun Derry but Andy Marshall saved his effort to his left.

With four minutes of the first period left Matt Richards sent in a cross after a corner had been cleared and Thomas Gaardsøe headed over the bar.

No changes at the break for Town, who had started OK before conceding but who had come back strongly before the break.

The Blues continued this resurgence in the second period, their best early opportunity coming from a Gaardsøe ball over the top. Darren Bent chased it down on the right of the Palace area before laying the ball back to Marcus Bent whose shot was blocked.

On 53 Joe Royle switched Chris Makin for Pablo Couñago, Matt Richards moving to left-back and Darren Bent going to the left flank.

Darren Bent had a good opportunity on the hour after Pablo Couñago had played the ball in from the edge of the area. Bent got a shot in but it deflected away from goal.

Fabian Wilnis might have done better in the 64th minute but he failed to control Jermaine Wright's fine through ball.

A minute later Matt Holland turned a cleared cross back towards goal powerfully but it was put out for a corner. Magilton took the kick and Marcus Bent headed powerfully past Berthelin and into the net.

Town fully deserved the equalising goal and on 68 they might have had a second, Pablo Couñago blasting over the bar from eight yards out after being played in by Holland. The Spaniard will think he should have done better.

Palace started to get more into the match as it entered its last 20 minutes. A fine break down the right culminated with Butterfield sending in a deep cross for Johnson who headed back onto the bar with Marshall beaten.

With 15 minutes left Gaardsøe made an important challenge on sub Friedman inside the Town area. Three minutes later sub Thomson's touch let him down as he ran onto a ball played into the area.

The game was moving from end to end with both sides having chances. With ten minutes remaining Joe Royle brought on Martijn Reuser for Darren Bent.

Reuser was quickly in action with a left-wing cross which Jermaine Wright headed down for Marcus Bent. The much-travelled striker sent his shot well over the bar.

With four minutes left the Town defence made a number of errors but somehow managed to avoid scoring a goal. Gaardsøe cleared the ball badly to Friedman. The Scot brought the ball forward and sent in a cross. Naylor beat Johnson to it in the air and sent it skyward before Marshall weakly punched to the edge of the area. With the Town goal unguarded Thomson skewed his shot wide of the post.

On 87 Reuser took a freekick on the right, Naylor's flicked header going across goal. Referee Eddie Wolstenholme brought his yellow card out for the first and only time after Jim Magilton argued with a freekick which the referee subsequently moved ten yards nearer.

Town's final attempt on goal was a Reuser 20-yard freekick. The Dutchman unusually hit the ball into the wall but chipped it back over the top for Couñago but his effort went over.

A draw was probably the fair result with both sides having chances and periods of domination. Town again gave away a bad goal but gradually took control and might have scored more than their solitary goal.

Had three points been gained on Saturday then a draw might have been seen as a good result. However, a point against Palace is still not a bad return. The Blues will be hoping that Wolves will drop a point when they are in action tomorrow.

Photo: Action Images

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