For Villa, it was a crucial point gained rather than two dropped. For UEFA Cup chasing Palace, it was the other way round. And that contrast In need must have been painful, miserable if you like, for Villa fans.

While Palace have built on their FA Cup Final defeat, Villa have taken a step backwards since finishing runners-up last season. The signs of that success are still there though, and will provide a useful bulwark as Villa attempt to stave off any relegation threat. Defensively, they functioned like they used to of old, with Paul McGrath mopping up here and there behind Kent Nielsen and Derek Mountfield.

The pace of 36-goal partnership lan Wright and Mark Bright, was troublesome, but the chances for the dangerous duo were restricted.

When they did get a look in, Lee Butler proved equal to the task. Indeed Nigel Spink's stand-in pulled off excellent saves from Eddie McGoldrick and Stan Collymore.

But the best chance of the game fell to Villa's lan Olney when he volleyed embarrassingly wide of the target within seconds of the restart.

Villa manager Jozef Venglos was delighted with another point and admitted: "The point is more important than the performance at this stage of the season."