Iain Dowie made one enforced change for this meeting of two of the relegated clubs as Joonas Kolkka came in for the injured Jobi McAnuff as both sides looked for their first win of the season.

As in their midweek encounter Palace were behind early as Dean Ashton broke the deadlock. On just seven minutes he volleyed home when he met a perfect Andy Hughes cross from the right hand side.

The visitors responded in the right fashion and enjoyed a good spell of possession with two opportunities falling to Jon Macken. On eleven minutes he shot wide of Robert Green's right hand post and had another deflected wide from their best move of the opening quarter of the game

Green was called into action with the next attack as Ben Watson made him pull off a fine save from a shot on the edge of the box as the visitors enjoyed more of the game.

At the other end they were pleased to see an Ashton shot go inches wide after a defensive slip let him in against the run of play.

On the half hour Green once again was called upon as he produced a fine save to parry away a Macken shot after Tom Soares had played the perfect pass through.

The loose ball was cleared from danger with Andy Johnson coming in to convert the chance.

Palace had to make an early change on 34 minutes when Macken had to leave the action to be replaced by Wayne Andrews.

In an open game chances were coming at both ends and both McKenzie and Huckerby missed opportunities to increase the advantage. Kiraly saving from a McKenzie header and Huckerby shot just wide but it was at the other end where the net was found.

Palace made the most of a defensive slip when Soares found Boyce who wasted no time in sending the cross over for Johnson to convert past Green to put his side on level terms.

The second half started in the same fashion as the first with not much to choose between the sides as attacking was certainly the name of the game from both camps.

The home side having two early opportunities as Kiraly denied McKenzie and Dean Marney struck a free kick from outside the box which went just inches over the bar.

Palace were not to be kept out of the game themselves and enjoyed plenty of possession around the Canaries box and both Johnson and Watson saw shots blocked.

Just on the hour mark of the game Andrews was put through by Kolkka but the substitute could only watch as his shot went agonisingly wide of Green's post.

Play was soon switched back to the other end and a superb piece of play from Ashton was denied by a combination of both the woodwork and Giraly.

Danny Butterfield was introduced into the action by Dowie with 15 minutes remaining at the expense of Kolkka and went into midfield as both sides still chased maximum points.

Just minutes later it was the visitors who had the next opportunity to leave with maximum points as Johnson was in space but his powerful shot was tipped over the bar by Green which gave Palace another set piece to add to their large number of corners in the game.

Neither side could find the winner though as the clock counted down and both sides knew it was important not to lose. Norwich recorded their third home draw in a week whilst Palace will be pleased with both their performance and a first point of season 2005/06 as the referee called time on a match between two sides who are sure to be challenging at the other end of the table in May.  

Norwich City: Green, Drury, (Charlton 45), Shackell, Fleming, Huckerby, Marney, Ashton, McKenzie (Thorne 79), Safri, (Jarrett 79), Hughes, Colin
Sub not used: Ward, McVeigh.

Crystal Palace: Kiraly, Ward, Johnson, Macken, (Andrews 34), Leigertwood, Watson, Borrowdale, Boyce, Kolkka (Butterfield 75), F Hall, Soares.
Subs: Speroni, Hudson, Popovic.

Booked: Boyce, Leigertwood, Hall.