Many games through a season are called six pointers but one look at the league table confirmed that this match had every right to be given that title with both clubs desperate not to lose this encounter.
One change was made by Iain Dowie as Gary Borrowdale was named in place of the injured Danny Granville, otherwise the starting eleven was unchanged from the victory over Spurs.
The home side were looking to secure a victory which would move them off the bottom of the league and started the brighter of the two sides. On six minutes Zoltan Gera hit the crossbar as he got the better of Borrowdale on the left and shot across goal which beat Gabor Kiraly but hit the woodwork on its way through.
Just six minutes later and Palace were reduced to ten men as match official Dermot Gallagher instantly produced his red card to dismiss Gonzalo Sorondo. He had been adjudged to have committed a professional foul and was given the card for his first offence of the night.
Dowie had to make an immediate change as he introduced defender Darren Powell at the expense of Dougie Freedman as Andy Johnson was left alone in a new formation.
The substitute had Palace's first chance of the evening as he saw his header loop high into the air from Wayne Routledge's right wing cross.
The visitors could not worry about feeling hard done by and get on with the job in hand and did well to overcome some pressure from the home side. On the half hou Jonathan Greening saw his cross headed wide by Darren Purse whilst Kiraly watched as his fellow countryman Gera tried to lob him but it fell about two yards wide of the Hungarians post.
The home side's feeling about the referee soon changed seven minutes before the break. Horsfield felt he had been fouled by Powell but not given in the throstles favour on this occasion.
Despite a late first half chance which saw Kevin Campbell head over the bar from yards out the visitors held on to go in level at the break.
The deadlock was soon broken after the break as Johnson converted his 15th goal of the season when he made the most of Darren Purse's decision to leave the ball from Kiraly's long goal kick. The defender seemed to get a call but Johnson pounced on the ball and headed past Russell Hoult to give his side the lead with ten men.
The ten men knew they had nearly all the half to hold out and were going to need to pull on all that fitness work put in at the training ground.
Kiraly was going to be the busier of the two keepers and so it proved as he saved well on 52 minutes to tip over Paul Robinson's effort and then gathered a Kevin Campbell shot which rebounded off the post.
Palace were always going to take advantage of any breakaways as the home side pressed for the equaliser and on the hour nearly extended the lead. Fitz Hall saw his header tipped onto the post from a Routledge corner.
Palace defence was under siege as the game entered the last fifteen minutes and Earnshaw had his shot cleared by Powell and then Borrowdale fired the ball away from his box after Greening's corner was saved off the line by Kiraly.
No-one at this stage would imagine the dramatic last seven minutes which was to follow as Campbell gave the baggies a lifeline. He put the ball over the line after Kiraly had tried to save an attempted Powell clearance following a dangerous Greening cross.
Dowie introduced Aki Riihilahti to the action with four minutes remaining but he was soon watching his side go behind. Campbell, involved again, found Earnshaw who slotted the ball in the net and send the 23,000 Albion fans crazy.
Drama over - no way - Wayne Andrews was introduced as Palace had their final attack of the night and the ball was swung over by Routledge and headed back across goal for the visitors to snatch an injury time equaliser courtesy of a close range effort by super sub Riihilahti.
A share of the points at the end of a dramatic night and who knows how important that point will be to either side come May.
West Bromwich Albion: Hoult; Albrechtsen (Richardson 72), Purse, Clement, Robinson; Gera, Scimeca, Wallwork, Greening; Campbell, Horsfield (Earnshaw 55).
Subs not used: Kuszczak, Gaardsoe, Kanu.
Booked: Gera.
Palace: Kiraly; Boyce, Hall, Sorondo, Borrowdale; Routledge, Leigertwood, Hughes (Andrews 90), Soares; Johnson, Freedman (Powell 14 (Riihilahti 86)).
Subs not used: Speroni, Lakis.
Booked: Powell
Sent-off: Sorondo.
Ref: D Gallagher
