Crystal Palace 1 Norwich City 1
This match could not have been more Tony Pulis if it tried. It was wet, windy and agricultural, not that anyone associated with Crystal Palace would have cared if they had managed to grind out a fourth win in Pulis's first eight matches in charge.
Yet Palace did not play with enough wit, even after Norwich lost Leroy Fer to a late red card, and a frustrating draw meant they dropped back into the bottom three. If Palace are to stay up, they must win their home matches against teams as ambition-free as Chris Hughton’s Norwich.
For Hughton the disappointment was that Norwich could not hold on to the lead given to them by Bradley Johnson and he felt that Mike Dean should have sent Marouane Chamakh off for pushing Wes Hoolahan in the face.
Atrocious conditions
"The letter of the law as far as I know is that, if somebody raises their hands, it is a sending-off offence," Hughton said.
The atrocious conditions made this pure Pulisball and defenders were best advised to locate Row Z. Yet after 39 minutes Danny Gabbidon dithered while trying to deal with a long ball and Wes Hoolahan and Gary Hooper combined to set up Johnson, who clipped his shot past Julian Speroni and in off the inside of the left post.
The lead lasted five minutes. After Cameron Jerome’s header was cleared off the line by Martin Olsson Fer stupidly pushed Mile Jedinak from the following corner and Jason Puncheon sent John Ruddy the wrong way with his penalty.
Fer, booked for giving away the penalty, would later earn a red card for clattering Jedinak.
Other than that five-minute spell, chances were in short supply. Speroni denied Nathan Redmond with his legs and Jerome shanked two excellent opportunities. Palace might also have had a second penalty when Johnson handled Joel Ward's cross with 15 minutes left.
Transfer window
The next month could be pivotal for them as Pulis looks to improve his squad in the transfer window.
"The next two or three weeks are very big for this club," he said. "The window opens so it gives you an opportunity to wheel and deal."
Guardian Service
