Clinton Morrison continued his superb form under Neil Warnock with a second-half equaliser in Crystal Palace's 1-1 home draw with Norwich.The Republic of Ireland striker scored his ninth goal in the last 11 matches to cancel out Darel Russell's opener for the Canaries and extend Palace's unbeaten run to 13 games.
Both sides had shown good form over the festive period and they fought out an even contest in which both showed enough to suggest they will continue their dual ascent of the table in the new year.
Warnock's side started well and James Scowcroft teed up Morrison for a chance which he skied over before Lee Croft tested Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni from the edge of the area in a breathless start.
But Glenn Roeder's side gradually began to control the majority of possession and went ahead in the ninth minute.
A long throw from the right by Jon Otsemobor was headed on by Dion Dublin to Jamie Cureton who cleverly hooked the ball back over his head into Dublin's path.
The veteran was just onside and despite mis-hitting his volley saw the ball run across the six-yard box where Russell was on hand to apply a simple finish.
Dublin then forced Speroni into a save with a powerful header from another good Norwich move before seeing an ambitious lob from 25 yards land on the roof of the net.
The Canaries came within inches of doubling their lead with the first attack of the second half.
Croft easily beat Clint Hill for pace down the right and his excellent cross was met with a firm header by Cureton and Speroni had to be at full stretch to tip it over.
But it was the Eagles who instead found the net in the early stages through Morrison's 11th of the season in the 50th minute.
Gary Doherty gave away a needless free-kick 40 yards from goal by bundling over Scowcroft.
Ben Watson's long ball forward somehow found its way through to the unmarked Morrison and the former Birmingham man cleverly flicked the ball into the bottom corner with the back of his head.
Warnock shifted 17-year-old Sean Scannell inside to make a front three and the visitors struggled to adapt, with Morrison again going close with a snap-shot which was turned over his own crossbar by Jason Shackell.
Roeder responded by dropping Cureton back to the left to match up with Palace and the move almost paid dividends when a fine move involving Cureton, Russell and Matty Pattison ended when Dublin turned a low cross over.
Tom Soares then wasted a good counter-attack by shooting aimlessly wide from 25 yards with Morrison well-placed to his right before Roeder replaced the excellent Croft with Darren Huckerby for the final 15 minutes.
Scowcroft headed straight at David Marshall from a fine Soares cross before substitute Carl Fletcher horribly shanked his volley into the turf as the hosts piled forward in vain search of a winner.
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