Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 26066
Referee: Webb, H

Live Commentary

94mins

The final whistle goes at Selhurst Park.

93mins

A Nigel Quashie cross finds Dan Higginbotham in the box to slot the ball home and leave the Palace fans gutted.

88mins

Good chance for Henri Camara but his shot isn't the best and Gabor Kiraly manages to save.

85mins

Kevin Phillips is booked for a foul on Andy Johnson.

82mins

Excellent run by Michael Hughes, taking the ball to the corner flag as he bids to run the clock down.

77mins

Neil McCann replaces Jamie Redknapp.

76mins

Kevin Phillips curls a shot just over the bar.

74mins

Rory Delap comes on for Matthew Oakley.

73mins

Nicola Ventola is booked for a foul on Olivier Bernard.

72mins

Terrific Palace goal as Michael Hughes' long ball beats the offside and sub Nicola Ventola sprints onto it to finish coolly into the far corner.

64mins

Ben Watson comes on for Aki Riihilahti.

63mins

Tony Popovic is replaced by Nicola Ventola.

62mins

Kevin Phillips comes on for Graeme Le Saux.

61mins

Fitz Hall gets a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

60mins

Aki Riihilahti shoots over the bar from 18 yards.

58mins

Gonzalo Sorondo also sees red for his part in the fracas.

57mins

Peter Crouch gets a red card for swinging an arm at Gonzalo Sorondo.

52mins

Tom Soares drills a shot wide of the left post from 20 yards out.

49mins

Andy Johnson putting in some hard work for Palace but he's pulled up for a foul on Dan Higginbotham.

46mins

The second half gets underway with both sides keen to break the deadlock and secure the vital three points.

45mins

The half-time whistle goes after a dramatic first half at Selhurst Park.

42mins

Great chance for Michael Hughes as he fires in a cracking shot from 20 yards out which Antti Niemi does well to tip over the bar.

40mins

Nigel Quashie drills a shot wide from 30 yards out.

36mins

Peter Crouch steps up to place the penalty into the bottom corner of Gabor Kiraly's net.

35mins

The ball goes straight down the other end and a handball from Tony Popovic in the box gives Saints a penalty.

34mins

Excellent work from Andy Johnson finds Fitz Hall in the box, his turn and shot gives Palace the lead.

30mins

Andy Johnson tries to lob the keeper from 35 yards out, but it's well over the bar.

28mins

Weak free-kick from Jamie Redknapp collected comfortably by Gabor Kiraly.

27mins

Free-kick 25 yards out for Palace and Danny Granville's shot hits the wall but it drops to Wayne Routledge. His shot is a good one but it's saved well by Antti Niemi.

20mins

Andy Johnson is booked for a foul on Matthew Oakley.

18mins

Mikele Leigertwood gets into a good position but his drilled shot from 25 yards goes well wide.

17mins

Another decent cross from Jamie Redknapp but Gonzalo Sorondo bravely heads it away under pressure.

15mins

Jamie Redknapp corner cleared by Fitz Hall.

14mins

Tom Soares tries his luck from 25 yards but it's caught well by Antti Niemi.

11mins

Chance for Palace as Andy Johnson creates space for a shot 20 yards out but it's charged down by Claus Lundekvam.

9mins

Saints break well as Olivier Bernard crosses for Matthew Oakley but he scuffs his shot badly.

6mins

Mikele Leigertwood is pulled up for a foul on Jamie Redknapp.

4mins

Peter Crouch fires in the first notable shot of the match but he goes over the bar from 18 yards.

3mins

A nervy start to this one as both teams eye a route of the relegation mire.

0mins

The referee gets today's relegation six-pointer underway at Selhurst Park.

Match Report

Danny Higginbotham kept Southampton's Premiership hopes alive with a stoppage-time equaliser to break the hearts of Iain Dowie's Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Well into the four minutes of added time and with Harry Redknapp's outfit trailing 2-1, defender Higginbotham was well placed at the far post to send home a dramatic equaliser.

This six-pointer lived up to expectations with Fitz Hall putting the Eagles in front midway through the first half only for Peter Crouch to reply immediately from the penalty spot after Tony Popovic had handled.

Then on 58 minutes a brawl between Uruguayan defender Gonzalo Sorondo and Crouch saw both red-carded.

With so much at stake both sides started nervously. Perhaps Southampton settled first and Crouch had an early chance with a hopeful scissor kick which thankfully for Palace went over the crossbar.

Henri Camara was looking pacey and on a couple of occasions made progress across the byline delivering low crosses into the goalmouth that Palace were able to clear.

Olivier Bernard also did well with a low cross but the Southampton were lacking attacking options to capitalise.

Meanwhile, Palace's fortunes were mostly resting on Andy Johnson but the visitors were keeping a good eye on him.

Antti Niemi saved from Tom Soares and the Finnish keeper was called upon again, this time again keeping out Wayne Routledge's shot from the edge of the box.

This spell of pressure from Palace paid off on 35 minutes when Michael Hughes' free-kick just inside Southampton's half was poorly cleared by Higginbotham and Hall, with his back to goal, turned quickly to crash a 15-yard shot past Niemi's outstretched left hand.

Southampton replied straightaway as under no pressure Popovic misjudged the bounce of the ball and referee Howard Webb spotted the Aussie defender putting hand to ball.

Crouch showed no nerves as he coolly struck the kick low into the left corner. After the break Palace were having the better of the proceedings as Hall shot wide, Aki Riihilahti got on to the end of Johnson's cross, but fired over before Iain Dowie sent on Nicola Ventola to add to his attack.

Within five minutes, the Italian, on loan from Inter Milan, repaid Dowie's faith in him when he slipped the offside trap and raced on to fire a low right-foot shot to restore Palace's league.

Routledge then had two stabs at goal which went wide and Ben Watson struck a ferocious 25-yard shot which whistled over the crossbar before Palace foolishly decided to bank on defence.

As the minutes ticked away it took an absolutely outstanding save from Gabor Kiraly in the final minute of normal time to prevent Camara from scoring.

Just as it seemed time was running out for Redknapp's lads, substitute Kevin Philips was given far too much space on the left side and the ex-Sunderland man struck a low cross over to the far post for Higginbotham five yards out to hit a life-saver.

It's all going to rest on the results next week and Palace will hope their London neighbours Fulham do them big favour by beating Norwich and of course Southampton fail to win against Manchester United.

But still above all this, Palace must get a result against Charlton.

Man of the Match: Fitz Hall - Outstanding in defence for Palace as he kept the dangerous Peter Crouch quiet and his coolness on the ball was the springboard behind the Eagles' attacks.

Crystal Palace Team

Southampton Team

Crystal Palace

Southampton

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides