Football: HANDY ANDY

PALACE striker Andy Johnson struck an equaliser five minutes into injury time to leave West Brom feeling as sick as crocked referee Paul Danson.

Gary Megson's side seemed set to win all three points as Jason Koumas blasted a 30-yard free kick past Cedric Berthelin on 89 minutes to put his side ahead for the second time in the match.

But Johnson pounced from close range after Russell Hoult could only parry Shaun Derry's shot to level the scores.

The game had been held up for over five minutes after referee Danson was stretchered off after feeling the full force of Crystal Palace hardman Michael Hughes.

Danson, who had booked six players in the game, had an accidental collision with Hughes on 70 minutes.

He remained flat out in the middle of the pitch before he was carried off in a neck brace suffering from concussion.

Mr Danson was replaced by linesman Stephen Tomlinson, and it seemed to take the wind out of Palace's sails just 10 minutes after Dougie Freedman had cancelled out Rob Hulse's goal.

Palace seemed set to be heading to their fourth defeat in five games until Freedman converted Johnson's neat cross from six yards.

It was the Scottish international's sixth goal of the season - despite missing the last three matches with a hamstring injury.

Palace, who had failed to beat West Brom in their last 10 attempts, were chasing the game after allowing Hulse to escape on 52 minutes.

The former Crewe hitman reacted quickest to Alassandre N'dour's punt forward to fire home his seventh goal in nine games.

West Brom came into the game desperate to return to winning ways having seen their six-game streak ended by Wigan in midweek.

But it was Palace who were left rueing missing a few chances early on that could have got them off to a perfect start.

Neil Shipperley, who has found the net just once since his move from Wimbledon, somehow managed to head Danny Butterfield's cross, in the second minute, wide.

West Brom could have taken a shock lead on 10 minutes when Palace inexcusably fell asleep.

Steve Kember's side were furious when they weren't awarded a throw- in and were too busy protesting to ref Danson to notice Baggies midfielder Andy Johnson put Lee Hughes clear.

The former Coventry striker raced into the area and it was lucky his shot was partly blocked by Tony Popovic as it allowed Berthelin to push the ball away with ease.

Gary Megson's side came closest to breaking the deadlock just before half-time when Koumas curled a delightful shot against the post.

Keeper Berthelin then reacted brilliantly when the ball bounced back into play to stop sub James O'Connor, who had replaced Larus Sigurdsson, scoring from the rebound.

Hughes was put through by Koumas not long after the break but somehow shot well wide of the target.MAN OF THE MATCH DOUGIE FREEDMAN

Fine display on his return from injury

C PALACE: Berthelin 6, Smith 6 (Fleming 6) Popovic 6 (Symons 6), Mullins 7, Borrowdale 6, Butterfield 6, Hughes 7, Derry 6, Johnson 7, FREEDMAN 8, Shipperley 6.

WEST BROM: Hoult 7, Sigurdsson 5 (O'Connor 6), Gaardsoe 7, Gilchrist 7, Haas 6, Gregan 6, Johnson 6, Koumas 7, N'Dour 6, Hughes 6, Hulse 7. MANAGER RATINGS: Kember 6; Megson 8.

REFEREE: P Danson 6.

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