ALBION extended their unbeaten run to eight games with a hard-fought point at rejuvenated Palace.

The Baggies fortuitously took the lead after just eight minutes when Eagles skipper Mark Hudson headed a Jonathan Greening centre into his own net.

But the visitors' lead lasted an unlucky 13 minutes as they fell asleep at a Ben Watson free-kick and presented ex-Blues striker Clinton Morrison with a gift to level.

Midweek goal hero Roman Bednar came closest to stealing what would have been a fourth successive away victory when he rattled the woodwork in the 28^th minute.

Albion ultimately missed the chance to go top for the first time this season, at least for a few hours before league leaders Watford's teatime kick-off against Bristol City.

But Neil Warnock's men, who extended their unbeaten run to six games, proved stubborn opposition.

In the end, the game could have gone either way, with both sides wasting a host of chances.

Mowbray named an unchanged side for the first time this season as he kept faith with the same XI which won 2-1 at Plymouth three days earlier.

The Baggies got off to a dream start when Greening's left-wing corner was headed back to him by Clint Hill.

The Albion skipper curled the ball back into the danger-zone where fellow captain Hudson, under pressure from the impressive Bostjan Cesar, glanced the ball inside the far post.

The visitors almost doubled their lead seven minutes later when the lively Filipe Teixeira found Zoltan Gera in the centre of the park.

The Hungary international moved forward to tee up Robert Koren whose 25-yard strike flashed inches past the left-hand post.

Palace were not behind for long, though, as the Baggies defence was caught dozing at a Watson free-kick in the 21^st minute.

The Eagles midfielder pumped the ball high into the box where Jose Fonte managed to direct it into the path of the unmarked Morrison who smashed the ball home.

Seconds later, that man Morrison was in the thick of it again when he crossed from the right.

Strike-partner James Scowcroft beat Leon Barnett to the ball to head just wide of the left-hand upright.

A swift counter-attack by Albion in the 28^th minute saw Gera pick out Teixeira in the middle and he played a slide-rule pass into the feet of Bednar.

The on-loan Hearts striker neatly cut inside Palace defenders Matt Lawrence and Fonte but, with just Julian Speroni to beat, thundered a 12-yard strike off the crossbar.

Moments later, Chris Brunt picked the ball up on the left and squared for Teixeira who fired wildly over from just inside the area.

Eight minutes from the break, Watson swung in another dangerous free-kick and Dean Kiely was grateful to see Scowcroft's flick-on sail just over the bar.

A quick exchange of passes in the 41^st minute saw Scowcroft flick-on to Morrison who teed up Watson.

The Palace midfielder unleashed a low 18-yard drive which Kiely did well to push around his left-hand post for a corner.

Mowbray made a change at half-time as Craig Beattie came on to join Bednar up front. Brunt made way and Teixeira moved to left-midfield.

Only three minutes later, Palace scorer Morrison limped off and was replaced by Paul Dickov.

In the 50^th minute, Barnett did well to out-muscle Hill in the Baggies box as the Palace defender threatened to get on the end of Watson's ball.

Referee Uriah Rennie fooled everyone six minutes later when Scowcroft looked to have fouled Cesar from Dickov's cross.

Play continued and, while everyone stood still, Watson stayed alert and fired a 15-yard volley across the face of goal.

Warnock's men threatened again a minute later when Dickov got to the left by-line, only for his cross to sail beyond the back post and evade three of his team-mates.

Mowbray made another change in the 63^rd minute when Sherjill MacDonald replaced Koren.

But it was still the hosts who were looking the most dangerous.

And when Greening failed to get any distance on his headed clearance from Franck Songo'o's right-wing corner, Watson drilled a shot through a sea of legs which Kiely did well to smother.

At the opposite end, a Greening flag-kick resulted in Cesar heading just wide of the right-hand post.

Tom Soares cut inside Paul Robinson in the 64^th minute and smashed in a low drive which Kiely again was equal to.

Songo'o worked some space for a shot two minutes later and Albion were fortunate to see his goalbound strike blocked by Barnett.

But Albion found their second wind to finish the game strongly.

When Teixeira fired the ball into the penalty area in the 75^th minute, Beattie fluffed a chance and when MacDonald pounced on the loose ball, he shot over from 18 yards.

Two minutes later, Hill got the slightest of touches on Beattie's left-wing cross to deny Gera a free header on goal.

There was a real moment of panic in the Palace box when Robinson's cross was spilt by Speroni.

Fortunately for the hosts, Hill was again alert to the danger and cleared before Beattie could prod home.

MacDonald showed quick feet in the 82^nd minute and drilled in a cross which was a touch too high for Beattie and the Scotland striker headed wide when Bednar may have been better placed for an effort on goal.

That proved Albion's last chance and, in the end, Mowbray's men will probably have been content with a point following a tricky afternoon.

Warnock certainly was. The Palace boss punched the air with delight at the final whistle. 

PALACE (4-4-2): Speroni; Lawrence, Hudson, Fonte, Hill; Soares, Watson, Derry, Songo'o (Martin 79); Scowcroft, Morrison (Dickov 48). Subs not used: Freedman, Kennedy, Butterfield.

ALBION (4-4-1-1): Kiely; Hoefkens, Barnett, Cesar, Robinson; Gera, Koren (MacDonald 73), Greening, Brunt (Beattie HT); Teixeira; Bednar. Subs not used: Steele (gk), Pele, Chaplow.

GOALS: PALACE - Morrison (21). ALBION - Hudson (own goal, 8).

REFEREE: U Rennie (South Yorkshire).

ATTENDANCE: 15,247.

ALBION STARMAN: Filipe Teixeira.

PIC: ONE-NIL TO THE ALBION...Hudson heads into his own net under pressure from Cesar

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