West Brom 2 Crystal Palace 2: goals from subsitute Victor Anichebe and from Saido Berahino earn deserved pointLively: Saido Berahino was a constant threat for West Brom and scored from the spot in the second half
Neil Warnock’s fractious relationship with referees was tested again after Saido Berahino’s late penalty earned West Bromwich Albion a dramatic point.
Warnock was charged by the Football Association this week after criticising official Craig Pawson and this time it was Mark Clattenburg who infuriated the Crystal Palace manager by awarding Albion a spot kick in added time.
Berahino enhanced his claims of a call-up to the England senior squad with his seventh league goal of the season to deny Palace victory, after Mile Jedinak had fouled substitute Victor Anichebe.
Warnock has always been unpopular in these parts after the infamous Battle of Bramall Lane in 2002, when he was in charge of Sheffield United, and despite his frustration he could not resist a cheeky wave at the Birmingham Road End as he left the field.
Palace, who could become the latest club to be the subject of an American takeover after Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris was linked with a possible buyout, should have settled the game long before the final minutes.
Albion had been only three minutes away from inflicting embarrassment on Manchester United on Monday night but never looked comfortable in the first half.
And after a sustained period of pressure Palace finally took a 16th minute lead through Brede Hangeland, with the defender given too much space to hook home after Albion had failed to clear his initial effort.
Albion were uninspired and sloppy in possession and Berahino, the leading English scorer in the league, barely touched the ball in a frustrating first half.
And Palace moved further ahead on the stroke of half-time after Sebastien Pocognoli recklessly brought down the dangerous Yannick Bolasie in the area.
Clattenburg could have awarded an earlier penalty after Craig Dawson upended Wilfried Zaha but this was a far easier decision. Mile Jedinak’s penalty was clinical and Palace could not have been more comfortable.
Irvine had to act and Anichebe’s introduction at half-time finally helped create some nervy moments for the Palace defence. And it proved an even more shrewd substitution when the muscular forward pulled a goal back six minutes in, heading Chris Brunt’s corner over Julian Speroni, with Palace insisting their goalkeeper had been fouled.
Bizarre scenes then followed as Speroni received treatment for three minutes and wanted to carry on but Warnock ordered the Argentinean off the field, replacing him with Wayne Hennessey.
Albion were now in the ascendancy, Graham Dorrans smashing a shot narrowly wide before Craig Gardner struck the crossbar.
Six minutes of added time lifted Albion spirits and they finally levelled when Jedinak fouled Anichebe. In his current form, Berahino was never going to miss.