Neil Warnock made history as Palace earned a point in an entertaining clash.

Clinton Morrison's second half equaliser was enough for the Eagles to extend their unbeaten run to 13 games - the longest sequence since Simon Jordan became chairman six-and-a-half years ago. 

The previous best undefeated spell came in the first few months of his reign - a 12-match sequence between October and December 2000 - when Alan Smith was manager.

And, on balance, Warnock's men were worth their share of the spoils on a drizzly New Year's Day.

The Palace boss named an unchanged side for the third successive match, which meant that 17-year-old attacker Sean Scannell was handed his first home start.

The only change took place on the bench, where youngster Ryan Hall came in for Paul Ifill. The Eagles came out of the blocks fastest, Tom Soares running at the Norwich defence on two occasions, which both led to opportunities for Clinton Morrison, the latter of which he ballooned disappointingly over the bar.

Norwich, who themselves came into the game on a six-match unbeaten stretch, also contributed to the lively opening, Lee Croft forcing a decent stop from Julian Speroni after taking on Eagles left back Clint Hill.

The Canaries then went ahead with their next chance. Slack play in the Palace midfield saw Jamie Cureton create an opening for Dion Dublin, who squared it into the path of Darel Russell to roll into an open net.

The goal silenced the buzz that had been present at Selhurst Park in the early stages of the game, and Speroni's saving intervention from Dublin prevented further torment on 13 minutes. 

Fourteen minutes later, a free kick led to a mini-scramble and Danny Butterfield screwed inches wide from close range as Palace continued to threat predominantly from set pieces.   

Despite the scoreline, the Selhurst fans gave their backing to the home side, and clapped loudly when Hill completed a determined tackle on Croft after 30 minutes.

Warnock, whose men have been remarkably injury-free in recent weeks, was forced to make a change when Butterfield was withdrawn through injury. Jose Fonte came off the bench to partner Mark Hudson in central defence, with Matt Lawrence pushed out to right back.

Cureton then came close on two occasions. He nodded goalbound a right wing cross that Lawrence failed to clear, and raced onto a through ball to fire towards the near post, but Speroni was equal to both tasks.

As an entertaining first half headed towards its conclusion, Palace exerted some pressure of their own. Inevitably, Watson's crosses represented the home side's best chance of an equaliser, and his 39th-minute ball led to a flick by James Scowcroft into the path of Scannell. The youngster's excellent first touch created an opening, but he lashed the ball over the bar from 20 yards.

It is likely that Warnock had a word or two with his players at the interval, but it was Norwich who came out better, Croft's right wing cross headed to goal by Cureton, but Speroni acrobatically kept the ball out. 

But on 50 minutes Palace grabbed an equaliser when Morrison ghosted in to convert Watson's right-sided free kick with a neat back-header. 

Morrison's goal, his 11th of the season, took his overall Palace tally to 108 - on a par with substitute Dougie Freedman, who broke off from his warm-up routine to give his fellow striker a well-earned pat on the back.   

But Palace needed to remain vigilant. With the very next attack Norwich went up the other end and carved through the hosts' defence, and it took a crucial tackle by Shaun Derry to prevent Darrel Russell from putting the visitors back in front.

The game was perched on a knife-edge, with chances at both ends. On 61 minutes, Scannell's header fell to Morrison, whose effort was poked agonisingly wide by Scowcroft.

Seven minutes later, City broke swiftly and Cureton's shot was well held by Speroni. Palace were becoming outnumbered in midfield and Warnock acted, replacing the attack-minded Watson with another anchor man in the shape of Carl Fletcher.  

Norwich boss Glenn Roeder also made changes, bringing on Darren Huckerby and Ched Evans for Croft and Cureton.

But Palace looked stronger. With six minutes remaining, Scowcroft diverted Hill's back post cross to goal, but Norwich goalkeeper David Marshall was equal to the task.

A minute later, Selhurst rose to salute Scannell's contribution as he was replaced by the experience of Freedman.

As the game approached its conclusion, it remained open and unpredictable. On 88 minutes, Evans zipped an effort just wide of the post and, in the first minute of injury time, Freedman crossed for fellow sub Fletcher, whose shot lacked power. 

Palace attacked right up until the final of the four minutes of stoppage time, but had to settle for a point from a breathtaking encounter. 

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Lawrence, Hill, Hudson (c), Scowcroft, Morrison, Watson (Fletcher 69), Soares, Butterfield (Fonte 34), Derry, Scannell (Freedman 85).

Subs not used: Hills, Hall.

Goal: Morrison (50)

Booked: Hill (90+4).

Norwich City: Marshall, Otsemobor, Shackell, Croft (Huckerby 78), Dublin, Cureton (Evans 78), Fotheringham (c), Kamara, Russell, Pattison, Doherty.

Subs not used: Brown, Lappin, Arnold.

Goal: Russell (9)

Booked: Shackell (20), Fotheringham (90+2)

Referee: Mr Mike Thorpe. Assistant Referees: A. Laver, I. Gosling, G. Jerden. Fourth Official: Mr G. Jerden.