Taylor delighted with point

A controversial penalty converted by Leicester City's Iain Hume denied Crystal Palace all three points on Saturday at the Walkers Stadium following Tom Soares' 16th minute opener.

The point was welcome relief for Palace boss Peter Taylor following back-to-back home league defeats.

But Palace had to work hard against a lively Leicester side who were unbeaten in their past six games.

The Foxes started the brightest and should have been ahead in the ninth minute. Danny Tiatto scampered down the left wing to whip in a cross that had Gabor Kiraly scurrying to clear with his knees before Hume could poke it home, only for the ball to land at the feet of Elvis Hammond on the edge of the box. The former Fulham man contrived to drill his shot past the post with Kiraly stranded.

Josh Low then went close for the hosts, Kiraly having to beat his powerful header away following Andy Welsh's cross.

Palace then started to get going when Clinton Morrison, in for the injured James Scowcroft, laid the ball off for Carl Fletcher whose shot was deflected behind in the 15th minute.

From the resulting Mark Kennedy corner, Leon Cort crashed his header against the underside of the bar before the unmarked Soares lashed home the loose ball from 10 yards.

Moments later Cort should have made it two, but he saw his header rebound off the post after Soares had crossed from the right.

Leicester re-grouped after going behind, and could have levelled through Hume in the 23rd minute but the hitman fluffed his shot and drove it into the side netting.

Cort then produced some heroics, executing a perfectly timed tackle on Hammond when he was through on goal.

Rob Kelly's men eventually drew level, but needed a helping hand, quite literally, from Darren Ward.

Following a botched clearance from Kiraly after Cort's back pass, the ball was hit straight back to the lurking Hammond. Through on goal, Ward pulled the Leicester man back just outside the area.

Referee Graham Salisbury deemed the incident had occurred inside the box and pointed to the spot, dishing out a caution to Ward on the way.

Hume stepped up to take responsibility and smashed home the ball to Kiraly's left.

After the break, both teams sensed they could steal all three points but the game descended into a midfield scrap with clear cut chances at a premium.

Shefki Kuqi and Marco Reich, who had both been ineffectual all game, were replaced in the 72nd minute by Dougie Freedman and Stuart Green.

Green could have stolen the points late on but blasted his shot over with the goal gaping.

Palace star man: Leon Cort. Tall, strong and athletic with a goalscorer's touch, the former Hull man has formed a useful centre back pairing with Darren Ward. Indispensable at the Walkers Stadium when Leicester were pressing for a late winner.Palace: Kiraly 7, Lawrence 6, Ward 5, Cort 8, Borrowdale 6, Reich 4 (Green 72 6), Kennedy 6, Fletcher 6, Soares 7 (Watson 85 6), Kuq