A SELL-OUT crowd, six goals and a vibrant atmosphere, but sadly not the result every Palace fan desperately wanted.

After Saturday's pulsating 3-3 draw, the Eagles go into tonight's game at Blackburn now knowing that defeat against Mark Hughes' men could spell the end of their brief tenure in the top flight.

Yet whilst Saturday's result suited neither side, Iain Dowie's men will at least be buoyed by their second-half fightback.

At around 4.15pm, with Southampton two goals to the good and Palace trailing 3-1, the Selhurst Park outfit were effectively down.

But the evergreen Michael Hughes' header and Andrew Johnson's late penalty, earned in controversial fashion, left their side with a glimmer of hope.

Erstwhile Palace transfer target Dean Ashton was responsible for most of the damage inflicted on the home side, scoring two of his side's three goals.

Ashton was roundly booed by some of the Selhurst faithful for his perceived decision to join the Canaries rather than the Eagles, but in truth Simon Jordan was simply not prepared to meeet Crewe's asking price.

On this evidence £3m appears to be a more-than-fair fee, and had the club made the investment it is perhaps possible they would already be safe.

Andy Johnson was again his lively self on Saturday, but he is sorely lacking a strike partner, with Dougie Freedman again disappointing.

With this in mind Dowie could be tempted to hand Sandor Torghelle a start in tonight's game at Ewood Park, as his physical presence would give the side an alternative option.

Speaking after Saturday's game, Dowie said: "The result keeps a nice cushion between us and Norwich, because there's still a three point gap.

"In the first half we were very good and were unlucky only to be level at the break, but they came at us well in the second half.

"The heart and spirit of the players was excellent, and we need to take that into the game with Blackburn."

Dowie's disappointment with the second-half display at Goodison Park saw him make no fewer than four changes to Saturday's side, with Darren Powell, Aki Riihilahti, Tom Soares and Vassilis Lakis all making way.

Soares' replacement Joonas Kolkka opened the scoring for the home side on five minutes, when the Finnish international was given the freedom of the Norwich box to fire a fierce right-footed drive past Robert Green.

Seventeen minutes later Norwich responded through Ashton, and 11 seconds into the second period the same player gave his side the lead with a jinking run and emphatic finish.

And when former Palace striker Leon Mckenzie put the visitors further ahead it appeared to be game, and indeed season over, but the trusty duo of Hughes and Johnson came to the rescue to ensure Palace survive to see another day.

The Eagles' next match is away at Blackburn tonight (8pm), followed by the visit to Selhurst of Liverpool this Saturday (3pm).

Player ratings (4-4-2): Kiraly 5; Butterfield 6, Hall 5, Sorondo 6, Granville 6; Routledge 7, Leigertwood 5, Hughes 7, Kolkka 6; Johnson 6, Freedman 5.