Woodrow's last-gasp equalizer gives Luton a precious point at Crystal Palace | first division

Just when it seemed like Luton's faith had evaporated, Cauley Woodrow arrived. The striker's first goal in the Premier League since he scored against crystal Palace Almost a decade ago, Fulham punished the home team for their profligacy in front of goal with a late equalizer to end a run of five defeats in all competitions.

It was some relief for Luton manager Rob Edwards, who had watched his team put in a strangely quiet performance as they lost to Jean-Philippe Mateta's classy first-half finish. But the hosts, who have already conceded 20 goals in the last 15 minutes of games this season, should have put the game behind them before Woodrow appeared to head in a cross from former Palace player Andros Townsend in virtually the last action of the game. the game. Suddenly there is hope again.

“Hopefully it can be a springboard for us,” said Edwards, whose team could climb out of the relegation zone with a win over Bournemouth on Wednesday night but may have added defenders Gabriel Osho and Teden Mengi to a long list of injured. “To find a way when we weren't at our best is huge.”

Palace leave for Spain at the start of a three-week break, although Oliver Glasner acknowledged the tendency to drop points remains a major concern. Here his team missed a golden opportunity to move 11 points away from danger and seal a second consecutive home victory for their new coach.

“We are all disappointed,” he said. “We deserved to win the game because we had many opportunities, but in one situation we remained passive. But I'm looking forward to the next three weeks because I see a lot of positive things.”

This was not only notable for being the first time the two clubs had met in the top flight since February 1992: Sunny Singh Gill became the first South Asian Briton to referee a Premier League match and it had plenty to keep him busy, even if he left the field to the boos of frustrated home fans.

Edwards had promised Luton would continue to attack despite failing to pick up a point since early February. But it was a big mistake from Alfie Doughty that gave Palace their goal. The Luton full-back did not notice that Daniel Muñoz was breathing down his neck while he was trying to return a ball to his goalkeeper. The Colombian international took advantage of his opportunity and allowed Mateta to execute a clever back-heel shot that left Thomas Kaminski hanging in the air.

Issa Kaboré was perhaps lucky not to receive a harsher punishment than a yellow card from Gill after a challenge on Jefferson Lerma, with Joachim Andersen and then Mateta coming close to extending Palace's lead from set pieces.

All Luton had to show for their efforts was a nosebleed for Ross Barkley after he collided with Joel Ward and a Jordan Clark volley went over the bar.

Mateta was a constant nuisance to the Luton defense and should have made Clark pay for a careless back pass just before half-time, but he could only find the side netting. The score could have easily been leveled at half-time if Osho had hit Barkley's free kick, but a frustrated Edwards looked as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders as he made his way down the tunnel.

The coach's words at half-time didn't seem to make much difference. Muñoz could have scored his first goal for Palace at the start of the second half, but he missed his header from Eberechi Eze's cross when it seemed easier to score.

It was the England midfielder's turn to miss the goal after a brilliant ball from Adam Wharton, only for Eze to fire home after an impeccable first touch. Palace began to tire and Carlton Morris was unlucky to direct a volley from a Doughty cross straight at Sam Johnstone.

Mateta and Naouirou Ahamada could have made for a much less nervous finish for Glasner, only for the substitute to change his lines after Kaminski had saved the initial header with his feet. Eze's outrageous effort from inside the Luton half that brushed the crossbar almost sealed the points in spectacular style before Odsonne Édouard also went close. But it was another substitute who had the last word.