Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock launched a blistering attack against the referee last night after Jamie McCombe rescued a point for Bristol City with the last touch of the game.

Lee Hills spectacular volley looked like it had given Palace their first win in five games, but the City captain's bullet header in the fifth minute of time added on earned the Robins a point.

It was a bitter blow for Palace who were the better team for much of the second half, and especially harsh on keeper Julian Speroni who pulled off a spectacular double save from Bradley Orr's penalty.

The penalty decision and the time added on by match official Richard Beeby infuriated Warnock though.

He said: "I didn't think anybody should shake the referee's hand tonight if I am honest. I think they all wanted to talk to him the ones that did, I don't think they were shaking it with any loving care.

"The first half he played one minute and blew on the dot as we were attacking outside their box and then he puts four up in the second half and it's four minutes and 55 seconds when they score and they are attacking. I just think it is totally out of order.

"I thought the penalty was the one of the softest I have ever seen but it didn't surprise me on the evening."

The first half was played mostly in midfield, with Palace's best chance coming in the first minute when Shefki Kuqi failed to connect with a Clint Hill cross.

The second half was a different story though as Palace looked more threatening. Kuqi had a couple of shots well saved by Ivan Basso before Mark Hudson's goalbound header from a corner was clawed out of the sky by the keeper.

Just at it seemed Palace would fail to make their superiority count the breakthrough came. Danny Butterfield's throw-in was nodded on to Ben Watson in the box. He poked it to Hills twelve yards out and his volley flew into the top corner to give the 17 year-old his first professional goal.

Almost immediately after Speroni produced his first world-class save of the night, somehow tipping over Ivan Sproule's shot from five yards.

Bristol City poured forward in search of an equaliser but were frustrated until Beeby intervened in the 85th minute and pointed to the spot for a tug on Darren Byfield by Butterfield.

Orr stepped up to take the kick but saw Speroni dive to his right to save the initial shot before somehow throwing himself across goal to block Orr's follow-up as well.

The players' happiness was short-lived however as McCombe's near post header from Lee Johnson's corner denied them all three points.