Norwich City travelled to Crystal Palace this afternoon looking to end a run of no wins in four Premier League matches.
Both sides started the slowly, but the game opened up in the latter stages of the first half when Bradley Johnson found the net for the Canaries.
Palace were level by half time as Jason Puncheon smashed home a penalty minutes later, after Leroy Fer brought down Mile Jedinak in the box.
The home side were on the front foot for much of the second period, but were unable to find a breakthrough despite Norwich being reduced to 10 men when Fer picked up a second bookable offence.
Find out how all the action unfolded with our minute-by-minute text commentary below.
Good afternoon and welcome to our live text coverage of the New Year's Day fixture between Crystal Palace and Norwich City, two teams who could find themselves with relegation concerns should they crash to defeat today.
It's incredibly tight down there in the lower reaches of the Premier League. Palace head into the match just one place above the relegation zone, level on points with Fulham below them, and just two points off the foot of the table.
Norwich are a mere three points better off in 14th place, and defeat today could see them fall into the bottom three if other results don't go their way. Team news coming up...
PALACE: Speroni, Mariappa, Gabbidon, Delaney, Ward, Bolasie, Jedinak, Dikgacoi, Puncheon, Chamakh, Jerome
NORWICH: Ruddy, Whittaker, Turner, Bassong, Olsson, Fer, Johnson, Snodgrass, Hoolahan, Redmond, Hooper
Positive new for Palace as Cameron Jerome is passed fit to feature in the attack. He was assessed ahead of kickoff after sustaining a knee injury against Manchester City.
Kagisho Dikgacoi returns to the Palace midfield following a muscle injury, while the visitors welcome back Michael Turner off the back of a suspension.
The two substitutes benches look like this...
PALACE SUBS: Price, Moxey, Parr, Jonny Williams, Bannan, Gayle, Phillips
NORWICH SUBS: Bunn, Martin, R Bennett, Josh Murphy, Becchio, Elmander, van Wolfswinkel
Palace boss Tony Pulis began his reign with a 1-0 defeat in the reverse version of this fixture, a result which left them stranded at the foot of the table. However, he has since inspired his players and reversed the club's fortunes, guiding them to three wins since the Carrow Road loss.
This impressive run of form has lifted them out of the relegation zone, but they were pegged back by a defeat to Manchester City in their last outing, despite performing well against the Sky Blues. It was only the good form of goalkeeper Joe Hart that prevented Palace from taking anything from that match.
Turning around their current run of form is no doubt top of Norwich's list of New Year's resolutions. Chris Hughton's men have not won in four matches, and head into this fixture following back-to-back home defeats.
History is against them today as Norwich have failed to win at Crystal Palace in their past 13 attempts. A David Hopkin own goal gave them a 1-0 win here back in 1996 when the two sides met in the old Division One.
There are a few encouraging stats for them to take heart in, though. Palace are the joint-lowest scorers at home in the Premier League this season, while Norwich have kept clean sheets in their last two away trips.
PREDICTION: Taking those stats into account, I can't see this being a high-scoring contest. It has all the makings of a tight six-pointer where a single goal could clinch it. My money is on 1-0 Palace with Marouane Chamakh finding the net.
Chamakh has looked like a man rejuvenated since Pulis took charge of Palace, and I'm interested to see how he fares alongside Cameron Jerome in the attack this afternoon.
Effective marking of Gary Hooper will be key to keeping Norwich at bay. The former Celtic man is in solid form, and netted the winner when these two sides last met.
Just over fives minutes to go until kickoff now, and the conditions at Selhurst Park aren't exactly ideal for football. It's a windy, rainy afternoon in London, which will no doubt effect things out there on the pitch.
There are a few empty seats here at Selhurst Park, with many fans no doubt nursing New Year hangovers. Both sets of players are making their way out of the tunnel.
KICKOFF: Crystal Palace get the match underway, kicking from left to right in the first half. Which of these side's will be resting easier at the end of 90 minutes? Stay tuned to find out!
Nathan Redmond has started brightly for Norwich, linking up well with Robert Snodgrass and Gary Hooper before sending a cross into the Palace box. It finds the head of Bradley Johnson, but goes behind for a goalkick.
More pressure from Redmond, who chases a through ball along the left wing and wins the game's first corner, which Palace clear and attempt to break. The attack breaks down as Snodgrass is penalised for a foul, gifting the hosts a free kick near the halfway line.
Norwich have settled into the game more effectively, holding possession well and looking quick on the break. Palace have had some attacking possession these past few moments, though. Joel Ward put in a cross from the left, which eventually found its way to Jason Puncheon, who miskicked in front of goal.
It's starting to look more evenly matched as both sides attempt to catch the other on the counterattack. Yannick Bolasie wins a free kick for Palace in a good position, just outside the Norwich box.
SHOT! Mile Jedinak goes for goal from the free kick, beating the wall but finding only the stand behind the goal as John Ruddy watches it sail harmlessly over his crossbar.
Palace are starting to claim the better of the attacking play, putting the visitors under pressure as Joel Ward swings in a cross from wide on the right. It's a comfortable catch for Ruddy in the end, with no Palace players in a position to challenge him.
BOOKING! Kagisho Dikgacoi is the first player to receive a caution this afternoon following a late tackle on Redmond. Robert Snodgrass takes the resulting free kick, but Palace clear the danger.
Norwich have claimed more possession these past few minutes, but have lacked creativity in their build-up play. Michael Turner has just hoisted a long ball upfield, which went straight through to Julian Speroni in the Palace goal.
To be fair, both sides have failed to get any service up to their strikers. Marouane Chamakh and Cameron Jerome have hardly had a look in for Palace, while Gary Hooper could use more support.
Half-chance for Palace as Kagisho Dikgacoi lets fly from outside the area, his effort failing to find the target. It was a clumsy strike from the South African, but it may have caused Ruddy some problems had it been on target since the wind was behind it.
Jason Puncheon runs at the Norwich back line and lets fly, Sebastien Bassong producing a vital block to deny the midfielder. Neither side has managed to test the opposition's goalkeeper yet!
Joel Ward attempts to burst along the left flank, but Steven Whittaker takes him out with a well-timed tackle, conceding a throw in the process.
CHANCE! Cameron Jerome has a golden opportunity to open the scoring as Jason Puncheon wins the ball near the Norwich area and floats a cross to the striker on the back post, but Jerome scuffs his shot and fails to test Ruddy.
Norwich are back on the front foot again as Robert Snodgrass takes on two defenders inside the Palace box. The ball eventually falls to Leroy Fer on the edge of the area. He goes for goal, but his tame effort is easily gathered by Julian Speroni.
The Canaries are enjoying a decent spell now, putting Palace under more pressure as Snodgrass and Hooper link up and win a corner. The danger is quickly cleared, but Norwich are back on the attack once more...
GOAL! CRYSTAL PALACE 0-1 NORWICH CITY (Bradley Johnson)
Norwich draw first blood as Gary Hooper picks out Bradley Johnson inside the box and the midfielder curles a superb strike beyond a stranded Julian Speroni into the top corner. Great vision from Hooper, and an equally good finish to match.
BOOKINGS! Tempers are boiling over here at Selhurst Park. Chamakh and Hoolahan both go into the book for an off-the-ball tussle, but the Palace man should really be seeing red. He took Hoolahan by the throat and pushed him to the ground!
PENALTY TO PALACE!
Leroy Fer is adjudged to have pushed Jedinak in the penalty area and the referee points to the spot. Fer is booked for his part in the incident, and it's Jason Puncheon who will take the resultant penalty...
GOAL! CRYSTAL PALACE 1-1 NORWICH CITY (Jason Puncheon)
Puncheon confidently slots home the equaliser from the penalty spot, and it's no less than Palace deserve. It's been an evenly-matched encounter, if a little ill tempered!
HALF TIME: CRYSTAL PALACE 1-1 NORWICH CITY
Palace and Norwich head into the break tied at 1-1 following an evenly-match first period at Selhurst Park. The game came to life in the latter stages of the half when Bradley Johnson fired the visitors in front, but they were pegged back by a Jason Puncheon penalty one minute before the break.
Plenty to discuss following the first 45 minutes of this one. Palace should really be down to 10 men following an off-the-ball incident involving Chamakh and Hoolahan, in which the Palace man was guilty of violent conduct.
Norwich claimed 60% of the possession in that half, but that doesn't tell the whole story as Palace have created more in front of goal, with seven shots to Norwich's three. These stats taken into account, 1-1 is a fair reflection of the game so far.
If you've just joined us, you can get yourself up to speed on all of the action so far with our half-time report.
KICKOFF! We're back under way at Selhurt Park. Palace have made a change at the break, bringing on Jonathan Parr for Kagisho Dikgacoi.
Palace win a corner as a wind-assisted cross from Joel Ward catches Ruddy off guard, causing him to spill the ball behind. Puncheon takes the corner, but his cross is too high for any of his teammates in the box.
The rain is really coming down here, though it's the wind that is having more of a bearing on the game. It's on Palace's side in this second period, so Ruddy has his work cut out.
Good pressure from Norwich as Wes Hoolahan cuts inside the area and attempts to play a cross to the back post, but Julian Speroni gets a vital touch to it and palms the ball away from the danger zone.
SHOT! Cameron Jerome lashes an effort over the crossbar from close range after a Jason Puncheon corner causes havoc inside the Norwich box. The big striker's positioning was good, but he should have hit the target from there!
More attacking play from the hosts as Cameron Jerome's cross cannons off a defender and is deflected towards the Norwich goal, forcing Ruddy to tip it behind for a corner. The Canaries keeper does not look comfortable playing against that wind.
It's been all Palace in the second half. Ward, who has been one of their most creative players all afternoon, has just played another menacing cross into the area, but this one bounces harmlessly behind.
Half-chance for the home side as Martin Olsson gets his body into the way of a Jason Puncheon strike. The Palace midfielder gets a second bite of the cherry, but puts his follow-up effort behind for a goal kick.
PALACE SUB: Cameron Jerome is replaced by Dwight Gayle in a like-for-like swap up front. Jerome has had a disappointing afternoon, failing to make any kind of impact on the game.
It's still Palace asking all of the questions in the second half. Bassong heads a Ward cross behind for yet another corner to the hosts. Puncheon's cross manages to elude all of his teammates once again.
CHANCE! Norwich get themselves off off the back foot for a moment as Bradley Johnson
threads a pass through to Gary Hooper. The striker takes it on the turn and shoots towards goal, but Speroni gets down and smothers his effort.
threads a pass through to Gary Hooper. The striker takes it on the turn and shoots towards goal, but Speroni gets down and smothers his effort.
Normal service is resumed as Palace threaten at the other end, Yannick Bolasie playing a dangerous cross towards goal that has Ruddy racing off his line to collect. Tony Pulis's side have been far superior since the interval, but 1-1 it remains.
Half-chance from the hosts as Chamakh runs at the Norwich defence and picks out Puncheon with a great pass. The midfielder puts a cross into the box, but it eludes both Chamakh and Gayle in front of goal. A touch of misfortune following good build-up play for Palace there.
Norwich have the chance to take some of the pressure off themselves and stage a rare attack, with Snodgrass whipping in a free kick towards the Palace box, but the Eagles defence clear their lines. This visitors keep up the pressure as Johnson has a crack at goal and wins a corner for his efforts.
Palace look like they are starting to run out of steam. Norwich find themselves on the front foot again as Snodgrass attempts to pick out Hooper with a through-ball, but he puts too much on it and the pass ends up being gathered by Julian Speroni.
RED CARD! Norwich will finish the game with 10 men as Leroy Fer has just picked up a second yellow card for a late tackle on Jedinak. The Canaries respond with a substitution, taking off Hooper for Russell Martin.
The numerical disadvantage doesn't appear to have dampened Norwich's spirits as they continue to dominate possession in the closing stages of this contest. They are passing it around with confidence, but look short on ideas up front.
There will be four minutes of stoppage time to play here at Selhurst Park.
FULL-TIME: CRYSTAL PALACE 1-1 NORWICH CITY
The full-time whistle goes and the match ends in a 1-1 draw, which was a fair reflection of the game when all things are considered. Palace looked odds-on to take the lead during a purple patch that lasted much of the second half, but ran out of steam, and Norwich did well to hang on in there with 10 men.
That's all we've got time for here today, but stick with Sports Mole for post-match analysis and reaction from today's game. Many thanks for joining us for this Premier League fixture.
Written by
Mark Langshaw
Mark Langshaw
