Crystal Palace's battle to beat the drop will go to a final day decider against Sheffield Wednesday after their home draw with West Brom.
Hillsborough showdown to decide final relegation berth
Crystal Palace's battle to preserve their Championship status will go to a final day decider against Sheffield Wednesday after their home draw with West Brom.
Paul Hart's side, docked 10 points for going into administration earlier this season, missed the opportunity to send the Owls down after the Premier League-bound Baggies hit back from a goal down to dominate at Selhurst Park.
The home side started brightly and took a deserved lead when Steven Reid could only fire a dangerous curling free-kick from Darren Ambrose beyond Scott Carson from close range.
But Roberto Di Matteo's men were soon back on terms as Gabriel Tamas got his head to a Chris Brunt free-kick, with the visitors going on to miss a host of chances to claim all three points.
Eagles goalkeeper Julian Speroni was called into action on numerous occasions to deny the visitors, while Neil Danns saw red in the closing stages after losing his cool and clashing with Graham Dorrans.
Off the line
Ambrose had the chance to snatch victory in the sixth minute of added time, only for Marek Cech to clear off the line with Carson beaten, and Palace now need to avoid defeat at Hillsborough on Sunday to survive.
Wednesday manager Alan Irvine was watching from the stands and headed back up the M1 safe in the knowledge his side still have everything to play for.
Albion boss 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 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 Brunt's free-kick.
Calvin Andrew should have put Palace back ahead on the half-hour when Carson saved from Danns.
Hanging on
The ball looped across goal towards Andrew, but with the keeper scrambling and the net gaping, he put his header wide.
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 Graham 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.
Eagles boss Hart, knowing a point made no difference to his side's fate and desperate to avoid that last-day drama, threw on two extra strikers in Alan Lee and Stern John.
But try as they might Palace could not find the winner with Carson saving superbly from Ambrose and 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 Cech scooped away Ambrose's shot to ensure the agony goes on at the foot of the table.
