Crystal Palace suffered yet another last minute heartache at Bristol City yesterday as a 95th minute Brett Pitman equaliser confined George Burley’s team to a winless December.

The Eagles had taken the lead in the opening few minutes through a fabulous Neil Danns free kick and were looking comfortable until the dying embers of the game.

Goalkeeper Julian Speroni was adjudged to have brought down Danny Rose in the box by referee Paul Tierby and Pitman slotted home to deny Palace a priceless away win.

It leaves Palace second bottom at the end of 2010 and two points from safety.

They have now conceded 12 goals in the last 15 minutes of games, costing them 12 points which would have put them eighth in the table level on points with Reading in the play-off spots.

Although the result was a kick in the teeth for Burley, with the Eagles coming so close to their first three points this month, the display was much-improved from the dismal showing in Nottingham nine days previously.

It was a spirited and gutsy performance from a patched up side who were without the injured Darren Ambrose and the flu hit Alex Marrow and Owen Garvan.

That meant David Wright was drafted in to defensive midfield with Calvin Andrew put out on the wing and Sean Scannell started up front for the first time this season.

It couldn’t have started any better for the Eagles though when a mazy run by Scannell drew a foul on the edge of the box which would have been ideal Ambrose territory.

However, Danns showed exactly why the club are trying to tie him to a new contract when he stepped up and curled the ball into the top corner past a flailing David James to give the visitors an early lead.

Bristol almost equalised immediately but Danny Haynes’ header came off the post.

Palace were not deterred and continued to venture forward with Danns at the heart of every attack.

The midfield dynamo first shot wide of the post then a wonderful effort from the edge of the area produced a remarkable save from James.

The first half drew to a close with Bristol having most of the possession but with Palace having the best chances.

Many fans were preparing themselves for a second half onslaught from Bristol but Burley’s men continued to press after the break.

Scannell was revelling in his favoured central role and went on a remarkable 60-yard run from inside Palace’s half, before feeding the ball to Wilfried Zaha whose shot was deflected wide.

Palace continued to look positive and a neat one-two between Counago and Scannell saw the Spaniard go clean through but could only put his shot agonizingly wide of the post and it would prove to be a costly miss.

Bristol looked like to be running out of ideas as Palace repelled most of what was thrown at them but in the 95th minute, Paddy McCarthy misjudged a header and Danny Rose found himself clean through only to be brought down by Speroni.

The Argentine dived the right way from the spot but was unable to make the save.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for Palace but there will be a lot of heart taken from this performance as the Eagle’s head into their New Years Day clash with fierce rivals Millwall on Saturday.

Next three fixtures: Jan 1 Millwall (a), 3 Preston (h), 8 Coventry (FA Cup, a)