Palace 1 Anderlecht 1

Last updated : 02 August 2007 By Nik Taylor
Palace secured a creditable draw against Champions League opposition to continue their unbeaten pre-season run.

The match on Tuesday night was the Eagles' eighth of the close season, and Peter Taylor's side are yet to taste defeat.

They went behind at Selhurst Park though, as the Belgian side took a first-half lead through new signing Cyril Thereau on the 25 minute mark.

Palace kept creating plenty of chances as the 4-3-3 formation gave Clinton Morrison, Dougie Freedman and Shefki Kuqi free rein to attack at will.

However, the score remained 1-0 at half-time, prompting Taylor to make wholesale changes for the second period - as he has done throughout pre-season.

Morrison, Kuqi and Freedman were among the players to come off as Taylor reverted to a 4-4-2 line-up.

It didn't take long for Palace to find their way back into the match.

An attacking move that started from a corner resulted in an Anderlecht defender handling the ball in his own area.

Watson stepped up to the spot and made no mistake in equalising.

Palace had further chances to win the game, and the fans also got the opportunity to see new signing Jose Fonte who was subbed on at the hour mark, but the score remained unchanged to ensure a draw ahead of Saturday's final pre-season friendly at home to Everton.

Peter Taylor gave guarded praise to his team after the match.

"I was very pleased with our second half but I thought Anderlecht kept the ball really well," he told the Croydon Guardian.

"I thought we played too safe in the first half. We didn't have too many opportunities to go at them and I didn't think we done enough on that front. But second half, we had a bit more energy and I thought we had a bit more pace and a bit more belief.

"Anderlecht played some lovely football and were very difficult opponents and different from what we are used to playing against."

Palace: Flinders (Speroni 45), Craig (Hughes 45), Hudson, Cort (Fonte 63), Freedman (Martin 45), Morrison (Green 45), Watson, Kennedy (Moses 63), Soares, Butterfield (Lawrence 45), Kuqi (Scowcroft 45).