Crystal Palace must avoid defeat at Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday to preserve their Championship status.

But they will have a great chance if they reproduce the sort of performance that saw them drew 1-1 with promoted West Bromwich Albion at Selhurst Park tonight.

And, despite being reduced to 10 men through Neil Danns' pointless red card, Palace had two golden chances to clinch the victory that would send Wednesday down in stoppage time.

First, sub Stern John headed Darren Ambrose's cross wide from point-blank range.

Then, with virtually the final play of the game, Marek Cech made a wonderful goalline clearance to keep out Ambrose's crisp drive.

In truth, Albion showed their class for much of the match at Selhurst Park, but it was Palace who took a 17th-minute lead in a fiery encounter.

Steven Reid could only turn Ambrose's menacingfree kick past Scott Carson to set the home fans alight.

But Albion were level just four minutes later when Gabriel Tamas headed home Chris Brunt's fine free kick despite strong pressure from Clint Hill.

The Baggies dominated possession after that, with Julian Speroni making half a dozen fine saves.

And Palace's increasing frustration was summed up by Danns' dismissal.

Northampton referee Dean Whitestone had no alternative after Danns head-butted Albion midfielder Graham Dorrans, who was also yellow-carded for his angry reaction to a challenge from the Palace midfielder.

It means Danns will be suspended for Sunday's final game.

Then, against all the odds, Palace had the two best chances to win it, but their failure to take them means defeat at Hillsborough on Saturday would see them drop into the Championship.

But, whatever happens, Palace's class of 2010 - cruelly in relegation danger only because of their 10-point deduction - have the backing of their fans.

Despite facing a nailbiting finish to the campaign, Paul Hart and the Palace players received a rapturous reception as they walked around the pitch at the end to mark the final home game of the season.