Clinton Morrison was again on the scoresheet as Palace put on their best performance of the season to earn a point from promotion-chasing West Brom. 

The high-flying visitors dominated the early exchanges and were worthy of their one-goal lead courtesy of a Mark Hudson own goal.

But from the moment Morrison ghosted in to register his fifth goal in four games on 21 minutes, the home side had much the better of the play.

Despite losing Morrison to injury early in the second half, Palace maintained their dominance and were unfortunate to come away with just a point.

Neil Warnock made one change from the side that defeated Preston four days earlier. The Palace manager opted for Franck Songo'o in place of Dougie Freedman, who replaced Damien Scannell on the bench.

Otherwise it was the same line-up throughout, with Paul Dickov again on the bench after coming on for the last six minutes on Tuesday night.

On a blustery afternoon it was the visitors who took an eighth-minute lead. Jonathan Greening's corner was blocked but the former Manchester United man had another bite of the cherry and crossed in for Hudson, under pressure from Bostjan Cesar, to head into his own goal.

Palace's efforts to strike back after the early blow were hit by the visitors' suffocating midfield allied with their speed going forward.

Albion almost doubled their money on 15 minutes when Robert Koren hammered a 20-yard right-foot drive wide of the post.

West Brom looked a little too comfortable for Warnock's liking, but he was lifted by a Palace equaliser on 21 minutes.

Ben Watson's free kick was chested by Jose Fonte into the path of the in-form Morrison who was incredulously left unmarked in the middle of the penalty area. The Eagles striker gratefully gobbled it up to send Selhurst Park into raptures. 

They almost erupted again two minutes later when a lovely flick through by Matt Lawrence gave Morrison space on the right wing. Showing he can create as well as finish, he crossed delightfully for Scowcroft, whose header ended a whisker wide of the post.

Palace were buoyant, but they were given a lucky escape on 28 minutes. A through ball by Koren Hoefkens from the right back's position transformed defence into attack. Koren turned inside Eagles centre backs Fonte and Hudson before launching a strike that bounced back from the bar.

The ball then bounced off the head of disorentated Palace stopper Julian Speroni and landed, thankfully for the home side, in a position of safety. 

The blustery wind caused Albion goalkeeper Dean Kiely some difficulty on 37 minutes. Watson, always a threat from set pieces, delivered a right wing free kick that swirled unpredictably and finished up just over the bar.

Tom Soares then went on a good run ndown the left andsquared to the livewire Watson, whose low drive was well parried away by Kiely. A minute later, Palace's dominance was pronounced further. Songo'o put in a potentially devastating low cross, but neither of the strikers were located in the box to convert what would have been a golden opportunity. 

Palace were on top, but could not grab another goal prior to the half time whistle. The Eagles were hit with a blow early in the second half when Morrison limped off the pitch, and was replaced by Dickov.

On 50 minutes, Clint Hill controlled a Watson cross and fell over in the box. Palace fans appealed for a penalty but referee Uriah Rennie waved play on.

There was another penalty appeal five minutes later when James Scowcroft appeared to be barged over when as he tried to connect with Dickov's left wing cross. Watson then dragged the loose ball tamely wide. 

There was an even more controversial moment on 59 minutes when Songo'o was brought down by Bostjan Cesar as he strode down the right wing. It was an obvious foul, but had Rennie played the advantage Scowcroft would have been able to latch onto the ball and square for the totally unmarked Watson in the box.

Cesar's booking was scant consolation for the majority of the Selhurst fans who were deprived an almost certain goal.

It was all Palace. Watson, one of the many outstanding performers in the home ranks, then forced an impressive save by Kiely, who must have seen the shot late.

Albion briefly interrupted the flow of the game when Hoefkens' looping header from a corner went just wide of the post after 65 minutes.  

Two minutes later, as the rain came lashign down, Soares left-foot drive forced Kiely into making a low save at his near post.

Scowcroft, another impressive Palace performer, then picked out Songo'o, but his goalbound effort was deflected out by a Bromwich defender. 

From nowhere,  a procedural 78th-minute cross was dropped by Speroni. A mini-scramble ensued, before Lawrence eventually calmed Palace nerves with a valuable clearance. 

Warnock who, along with the rest of the crowd, gesticulated loudly at the let-off, then made a change, replacing Songo'o, who may have been carrying a knock, with David Martin.

But despite his, and the rest of his team-mates', sterling efforts, Warnock had to be content with a point on his 59th birthday.

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Lawrence, Hill, Fonte, Hudson (c), Derry, Scowcroft, Watson, Soares, Songo'o (Martin 79), Morrison (Dickov 48).

Subs not used: Freedman,Kennedy, Butterfield.

Goal: Morrison 21.

Booked: Hill 40.

West Brom: Kiely, Hoefkens, Robinson, Barnett, Koren (MacDonald 63), Greening (c), Bedner, Gera, Teixera, Cesar, Brunt (Beattie 46).

Subs not used: Beattie, Chaplow, Steele, Pele.

Attendance: 15,247.

Referee: Mr U Rennie. Assistant Referees: Mr S Artis & Mr S Beck. Fourth Official: Mr D Deadman.