Crystal Palace's season of turmoil will go down to the wire after they failed to secure the victory which would have guaranteed their Coca-Cola Championship survival as West Brom held them to a 1-1 draw.
The Eagles, docked 10 points and still in administration, knew a win over promoted West Brom would be enough to keep them up and condemn Sheffield Wednesday to relegation. Instead, they must head to Hillsborough on Sunday needing a point to survive in what promises to be a nerve-jangling final-day decider.
Steven Reid's own goal put the hosts ahead, but Albion defender Gabriel Tamas spoiled the party by equalising and clearing a last-gasp goalbound shot from Darren Ambrose. Eagles midfielder Neil Danns was sent off for aiming a headbutt at Graham Dorrans and he will be suspended for the clash with the Owls.
Wednesday manager Alan Irvine was watching from the stands and headed back up the M1 safe in the knowledge his side's fate is back in their own hands.
Albion boss Roberto di Matteo played his strongest side and they had the ball in the net in the 13th minute, but Simon Cox had clearly punched it past Palace keeper Julian Speroni and the effort was ruled out.
The hosts were given another helping hand four minutes later when Ambrose swung in a free-kick and Reid inexplicably turned the ball past Scott Carson for the opening goal.
However, the lead lasted just four minutes and this time it was Palace who switched off at the back, allowing Tamas to bury a near-post header from former Wednesday winger Chris Brunt's free-kick.
Palace were hanging on towards the end of the first half and Roman Bednar headed against the crossbar, while Speroni denied Cox and Brunt in quick succession before clawing away a dipping 30-yard volley from Dorrans.
Palace's Argentinian keeper was back in action after the break, bravely blocking Robert Koren's blast and getting a vital hand to the ball as Bednar attempted to round him.
Try as they might Palace could not find the winner with Carson saving superbly from Ambrose and Alan Lee, and Paddy McCarthy heading into the side-netting. Danns' evening came to a premature end following his tangle with Dorrans, and with the final kick Tamas scooped away Ambrose's shot to ensure the agony goes on at the foot of the table.
Source: PA
