West Bromwich Albion 2 Campbell 82, Earnshaw 90
Crystal Palace 2 Johnson 47, Riihilahti 90

Aki Riihilahti scored an injury time equaliser to deny West Bromwich Albion last Tuesday, ensuring 10-man Crystal Palace grabbed a share of the points at The Hawthorns, writes Neil McSteen.

With the last touch of the game Riihilahti, who had only come on in the 86th minute, managed to steer the ball home following Wayne Routledge's cross from the left.

The goal broke the hearts of Bryan Robson's struggling side as they thought they had nicked victory following Robert Earnshaw's strike just moments earlier.

Indeed, West Brom made hard work of making their numerical advantage tell following the 12th minute sending off of Palace's centre back Gonzalo Sorondo for a professional foul on Geoff Horsfield.

Referee Dermot Gallagher had no option but to show a straight red to the Uruguayan as Horsfield was through on goal.

West Brom then proceeded to batter Palace but could not find a way through a resolute defence.

Iain Dowie obviously gave the more inspirational half-time team talk, as it was his men who opened the scoring in the 47th minute.

A long clearance upfield from Gabor Kiraly was misjudged by defender Darren Purse who ducked as the ball dropped, allowing his former Birmingham City team-mate Andrew Johnson to nip in and head home his 15th league goal of the season past the advancing West Brom keeper, Russell Hoult.

It took The Baggies until the 82nd minute to get back on terms when former Everton striker Kevin Campbell bundled home at the far post following Darren Powell's sliced clearance.

But after Earnshaw's late strike, Riihilahti saved Palace's skin to take vital points off the nearly doomed Baggies and preserve the five point gap between the sides.

MATCH STATS
PALACE STAR MAN Darren Powell.

On the verge of once being off-loaded to Reading, the likable centre-back has forced his way back into Dowie's thinking with some laudable performances. Aside from his sliced clearance that contributed to Kevin Campbell's goal, Powell was faultless throughout and denied Horsfield a certain goal with a beautifully timed tackle.

PALACE: Kiraly 8, Boyce 7, Hall 7, Sorondo 5, Borrowdale 7, Routledge 6, Leigertwood 7, Hughes 6 (Andrews 90 6), Soares 7, Freedman 6 (Powell 13 9), Johnson 8, Powell (Riihilahti 86 6).

Subs Not Used: Speroni, Powell, Lakis WBA Palace 5 On Target 4 6 Off Target 0 17 Fouls 11 1 Yellow Cards 0 0 Red Cards 1