Crystal Palace (0) 1 Rotherham (1) 1

(Freedman 57, Swailes 32)

Crystal Palace had to come from behind to grab a point against Rotherham United through Dougie Freedman’s second half equaliser after Colin Swailes had given the visitors a first-half lead on Saturday, writes Neil McSteen.

Palace could even have stolen all three points from a dour encounter at the death as they battered the Rotherham goal following The Millers reduction to 10 men in the 87th minute after the dismissal of their keeper Michael Pollitt.

In the eyes of referee Peter Walton, Pollitt’s handball outside the area had denied the lurking Andy Johnson a clear goal scoring opportunity and he had to go.

A frantic end to the contest saw Darren Powell go the closest for the Eagles, but his powerful header agonisingly hit the woodwork just moments after Andy Johnson had fired a freekick inches over.

In truth, a win would have been fortuitous for a Palace side too often frustrated by a well organised Rotherham.

The attacking intent shown by Steve Kember in his starting formation of Tommy Black on the left wing and Wayne Routledge on the right wing behind a forward line of Neil Shipperley, Dougie Freedman and Andy Johnson never really got going.

Although Palace did have their chances in the first half, they just could not convert them. Rotherham took the lead in the 32nd minute through a Swailes header from a Scott Minto corner.

The turning point of the game came when Jamaican international Darren Byfield pulled his shot wide with just Berthelin to beat.

After this let off Palace promptly went up the other end and levelled, Freedman bundling the ball home from close range.