Walsall 2-2 C Palace

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Clinton Morrison missed a golden opportunity to clinch the match for Palace in stoppage time after the Eagles had twice come back from behind.

Saddlers goalkeeper James Walker made a smart save to ensure struggling Walsall held on for a crucial point, but they had the chances to take all three.

After Walker twice saved from Morrison early on, Walsall gained the initiative and went ahead in the 25th minute.

Tony Barras got up highest to head in a Zigor Aranalde free-kick from the left and put Palace - without manager Steve Bruce - in trouble.

The Eagles hit back quickly, with David Hopkin threading a low shot through a crowd of players and just inside the near post following a corner.

But with half-time approaching, Walsall defender Barras claimed his fifth goal of the season and became the club's leading scorer with a low header past Matt Clarke.

Darren Byfield went close in the second half, while Palace had a penalty appeal turned down in the 69th minute when Matias obstructed Hopkin in the box.

But it took until the 78th minute for Dougie Freedman to level with his 13th goal of the season, latching onto a pass from Hopkin and firing past Walker.

The goal gave Palace their first league draw of the season, and the temporary management team of Steve Kember and Terry Bullivant a valuable point.

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Walsall: Walker, Brightwell, Carbon, Barras, Aranalde, Wrack, Bennett, Thogersen, Byfield, Angell, Matias. Subs: Harper, Gadsby, Herivelto, Simpson, Ofodile.

Crystal Palace: Clarke, Austin, Hopkin, Mullins, Rodger, Berhalter, Riihilahti, Kirovski, Gray, Freedman, Morrison. Subs: Kolinko, Black, Harrison, Thomson, Routledge.

Referee: G Cain (Bootle).