Murray double grabs Palace a point (From Wimbledon Guardian)

Murray double grabs Palace a point

5:43pm Saturday 9th March 2013 in Crystal Palace By Anthony Hay

CRYSTAL PALACE 2 - 2 LEEDS UNITED

Glenn Murray’s double ensured Crystal Palace grabbed a crucial point to go third in the Championship with nine games to go.

Ian Holloway had toyed with the idea of resting the Championship’s top scorer but it was Murray who saved his side from losing their first home game since the opening game of the season.

Steve Morison looked to have given former Palace manager Neil Warnock’s side the three points as he scored two second-half goals to put Leeds 2-1 up, but Murray popped up to score an 84th-minute equaliser, his 30th goal of the season.

Holloway said on the draw: “I think that will be a vital point. We kept going even when we went behind and what a brilliant goal to equalise.

“That was against as good a Leeds team as I have seen, so well done to Neil [Warnock]. I can’t fault our team.”

Holloway made three changes to the side that defeated promotion rivals Hull 4-2, with hat-trick hero Kevin Phillips, Dean Moxey and Jacob Butterfield all dropping to the bench.

Murray came close to scoring an opener when Wilfried Zaha, who was jeered by the Leeds supporters throughout the game due to his impending move to Manchester United, played a delightful ball to the striker whose header failed to beat Paddy Kenny.

Palace had further joy down the right when Kagisho Dikgacoi went on a marauding run before delivering a cross to Murray who again tested Kenny with a tame effort.

Murray made it third time lucky when he latched onto a Jonathan Williams far-post cross which he converted with relative ease to grab his 29th goal of the season.

Leeds came close to equalising in the dying embers of the first half but Luke Varney’s shot was cleared off the line by Palace captain Mile Jedinak.

Palace should have doubled their lead shortly after half-time when Zaha dribbled down the wing before unleashing a tame shot which trickled narrowly wide of Kenny’s post.

Leeds levelled the scoring in the 56th minute when Varney crossed to Morison, who was awarded the time and space to beat the helpless Julian Speroni.

The away side took the lead when Morison ran onto Kenny's long ball to score his second of the match, only for Murray to save the day by smashing home a delightful volley with six minutes to go, converting Damian Delaney's long ball.

Holloway will be hoping his side can replicate last season’s 3-1 away win over Brighton when they face their south-east rivals at the Amex next Sunday.