September 18 2007

Stuart Green

Crystal Palace were denied a precious victory when Coventry snatched a late equaliser to draw 1-1.

Former Eagles manager Iain Dowie returned to Selhurst Park for the first time since his departure two years ago.

Some of the 14,455 crowd jeered him throughout the match, but the Palace fans found extra voice to boo their team off at the end after they threw away all three points.

Dougie Freedman arrowed a fierce strike just over the upright for the first clear-cut chance in the 23rd minute.

Five minutes later, Stuart Green netted his third goal of the season when he put the home side in front after good work from Freedman.

Up till then, former Palace man Leon McKenzie had two opportunities to score but couldn't find a way past Julian Speroni.

Dele Adebola fired over for the Sky Blues, but it was the Londoners who should have made the game safe with efforts from Mark Hudson, Green and Leon Cort, before Carl Fletcher almost converted Tom Soares' cross.

But three minutes from time, Coventry sub Leon Best made Palace pay for their poor finishing when he blasted an undeserved leveller past Speroni into the top corner.

Palace: Speroni; Butterfield, Cort, Hudson, Craig; Soares, Watson, Fletcher, Green; Scowcroft, Freedman.