Aston Villa 1
(Hendrie 36)
Crystal Palace 1
(Johnson 6)

Iain Dowie believes bottom-club Palace are finally starting to get to grips with the Premiership after breaking a run of five straight defeats at Villa Park on Saturday.

A 25-yard wonder strike by Villa's Lee Hendrie equalised Andy Johnson's sixth minute opener, and the Eagles were only denied their first Premiership win by some wayward late finishing.

Tony Popovic wastefully headed Ben Watson's cross over the bar in the 88th minute and outstanding Villains keeper Thomas Sorensen made a breathtaking save to deny Michael Hughes in stoppage time.

Dowie said: "Some of our football was fantastic at times. But for the grace of God we could have won the game because we had some great chances."

David O'Leary said: "I'm disappointed, but that was all we deserved. Palace came in with a 4-5-1 formation and we didn't have the quality to break them down."

Dowie selected 19-year-old midfielder Ben Watson to shore up the midfield in place of Sandor Torghelle, and Julian Speroni made way for Hungarian stopper Gabor Kiraly.

After just two minutes Wayne Routledge should have opened the scoring when winger Joonas Kolkka threaded a fine pass in behind the Villa defence. Routledge clipped the ball past Sorensen but Olof Melberg recovered to clear his weak effort off the line.

Four minutes later Palace went in front with a goal of classic simplicity. Aki Riihilahti dispossessed Gareth Barry in midfield and lofted a superb diagonal ball over Melberg. Johnson out-paced the Swedish international before finishing left-footed.

Ten minutes before the break Villa pulled level when Hendrie walked through a weak Watson challenge to curl the ball past Kiraly.

The home side dominated long spells but were frustrated by Palace's rearguard. Once the finishing line was in sight, it was Dowie's side that went for the kill and Sorensen made a wonderful finger-tip stop to deny Watson.

Having handed Premiership debuts to teenagers Watson and substitute Tom Soares, goalkeeper Kiraly, and Uruguayan defender Gonzalo Sorondo, Dowie is now building for the future at Selhurst Park.

He added: "It's about the progression of the club. At the end of this season, we hope to be better people and a better team. If we are in the Premier league, great, but if not we will bounce back."

A London derby against Fulham next Monday presents a chance for their first win, but Palace may be without defender Fitz Hall who limped off with an ankle injury.

MATCH STATS
PALACE STAR MAN: Aki Riihilahti Freed by the extra man in midfield, Palace's water carrier was everywhere and made AJ's goal with a brilliant pass.

PALACE: Kiraly 7, Boyce 7, Popovic 6, Hall 8 (Sorondo 78 6), Granville 6, Routledge 6, Hughes 8, Watson 8, Riihilahti 9, Kolkka 7 (Soares 81 7), Johnson 8. Not Used: Kaviedes, Torghelle, Speroni.

Booked: Boyce. Att: 34,843