Crystal Palace 1
Coventry 1

A last-gasp equaliser denied Kit Symons a second straight victory on Saturday, as Division One's draw specialists, Coventry City, held on to their 13-year unbeaten record at Selhurst Park by the skin of their teeth.

Johnnie Jackson's last-minute strike gave Gary McAllister's side their sixth consecutive draw, and denied on-loan centre back Rob Edwards the winner on his home debut.

Kit Symons remains unbeaten after four games, and his prospects of getting the job permanently looked even stronger when on nine minutes his 20-year-old loan signing from Aston Villa rose unchallenged at the far post to open the scoring.

Tommy Black's deep corner found Edwards unmarked and he duly nodded home for what must be Palace's first set-piece goal of the season.

Earlier, Andy Johnson's shot had brought the first of a string of saves from the outstanding Gavin Ward in the Sky Blues' goal when he latched on to Dougie Freedman's deflected pass.

After 30 minutes, Palace suffered the crushing blow of losing the in-form Johnson to what looked like serious ankle ligament damage. Wayne Routledge replaced him, with Tommy Black going up front from the left flank.

Black revelled in the striking role and was a real threat. When Ward fumbled a Black shot, Freedman was just beaten to the rebound by the stricken keeper.

Palace old boy Dele Adebola was booked for diving just outside the Palace box, and the struggling visitors looked ready to fold when their influential player manager Gary McAllister was replaced by Spurs loanee Jackson.

A scrappy second half ensued, with Coventry enjoying more possession, and Micky Doyle fired past Mhyre only to find the flag up for offside.

Another Palace old boy Steve Staunton came on to a good reception, and his extra quality made the difference. His long cross-field ball freed Pead on the right, and his cut back was put wide by Doyle.

With a minute to go, Staunton was needlessly tripped by Freedman in Palace's half, and when his cross was put straight back into the box by Doyle, substitute Jackson was on hand to smash home from eight yards and snatch a point.

It was more last-minute frustration for Palace, but afterwards Kit Symons was philosophical.

"Maybe I should have thought of going on like I did at Stoke," he said. "We switched off for those few moments. I'm not complaining but it was a lapse in concentration."

Still unbeaten in four, Symons wants the job. "I am very keen to take the job on a full-time basis and I'm convinced I'd do well. I'd be disappointed if I didn't get it, but if the chairman gives me a pat on the back and a Rolex for my efforts, I will walk away happy," he added.

Man of the Match: Tommy Black. A real threat all day and his best performance all season.

Crystal Palace: Myhre, Fleming, Popovic, Edwards, Derry, Black, Hughes (Watson 76), Butterfield, Borrowdale, Freedman, Johnson (Routledge 33). Not Used: Berthelin, Granville, Symons.