Crystal Palace fought hard but could not find the finish as they drew 1-1 with Newcastle United at Selhurst Park.

Mohamed Diame sneaked to the far post on 22 minutes and scored the opening goal for the visitors before Martin Kelly was forced off with an injury before half-time.

Palace rallied for the equaliser and found it when Luka Milivojevic converted from the spot on 55 minutes after the restart.

Opportunities came and went for the Eagles but execution in the final third was lacking and Newcastle defended superbly to deny the lead being taken.

Palace got off to a fast start inside the opening 10 minutes – Luka Milivojevic played a darting through ball into Wilfried Zaha, but loose control of the ball meant it was picked up by Karl Darlow.

Minutes later, Patrick van Aanholt instigated a quick chance when he ran through to feed Benteke but a superb last-ditch challenge by Ciaran Clark denied him as the rebound was also parried by Darlow.

In the fifth minute, Ritchie delivered a great early cross into Ayoze Pérez which was then volleyed first time, setting the tone of what Benitez’s men could do.

The visitors took the lead on 22 minutes when a Pérez cross lofted over everyone and found Mohamed Diame at the back post for the opening goal, a shock which forced Hodgson’s side to respond.

Palace continued to attack before a hamstring injury suffered by Kelly forced him to be replaced by defender Mamadou Sakho shortly before half-time.

After the restart, the Eagles continued to search for their equaliser.

It came when Ciaran Clark got ahold of Benteke in the box which made referee Andre Marriner to the spot.

Milivojevic stepped up for penalty duty and converted on 53 minutes to level the score at 1-1.

Again Palace had chances where it could have been 2-1, putting the opposition on the back foot. James McArthur attempted to backheel the rebound of a ball into the net after a cross back into the box came close panicked the Newcastle defence.

The Scotland international had another chance on 75 minutes when he dribbled inside and had his best chance to score, only for the ball to go over the bar.

With seven minutes left until injury time, McArthur found Zaha who cut inside for a shot on the edge of the box but again the finish was not there as it was off-target.

Zaha got free of Yedlin down the left to play a cross into the far post for Benteke, but Clark made a goalline save to deny him and the follow-up was blocked as Newcastle defenders enclosed on the ball on the rebound.

Christian Atsu threatened to nick it for the opposition but his shot curled wide of the post in the dying minutes of injury time.

Both teams will feel they could have won it but the game ended in a 1-1 draw, amid several chances that were both created and missed.