Points are shared in six-goal thriller

IF Alan Pardew was not already silver-topped, then surely he would have turned grey during the past fortnight.

This was another bonkers game involving his Crystal Palace side, a six-goal thriller laced with controversy, comebacks, cards and calamity. For the latter, look no further than Palace’s defending.

They led 2-1 entering the final 20 minutes thanks to goals from Christian Benteke and the outstanding Wilfried Zaha (pictured), only to find themselves 3-2 behind as stoppage-time approached.

But Pardew had a hunch former Hull striker Fraizer Campbell might come back to haunt the boo boys and so it proved, the substitute salvaging a point late on.

Just two weeks ago it had been Pardew on the receiving end of a late twist when Swansea scored twice in stoppage time to steal a 5-4 victory which heaped pressure on the Palace boss.

And he must have feared another round of scrutiny and speculation after Adama Diomande and Jake Livermore exposed abject defending to score twice inside five minutes to put Hull 3-2 in front.

But Campbell kept his head to nod in unmarked and earn Palace their first point on the road since September.

‘I thought his history here might play a part and I said to my staff before the game, “I fancy Fraizer if we need a goal”,’ said Pardew, who introduced the 29-year-old with 10 minutes remaining.

Hull’s opener came via a Robert Snodgrass penalty but only after the Scotland winger – already on a booking – had conned referee Mike Jones with a blatant dive.

That 27th-minute goal came on the back of a brilliant start from Pardew’s men.

But after a blistering quarter of an hour, Palace faded and were behind when Snodgrass flopped to the turf inside the area. The identity of the scorer added insult to injustice for the Londoners. Seven minutes into the second half Zaha twisted in the area before inviting contact from Snodgrass, which looked minimal, and Benteke duly scored from the spot. Palace were in front on 70 minutes. Hull were too terrified to touch Zaha and he took advantage, working half a yard for a shot before blasting high into the net.

The lead lasted just three minutes when Diomande steered the ball home.

Livermore then drifted through the area to slot his first of the campaign into the bottom corner before Campbell’s moment and Pardew’s relief. Hull (3-5-2): Marshall 6.5; Maguire 7, Davies 6, Dawson 6; Elmohamady 5.5, Livermore 7.5, Huddlestone 7, Clucas 6.5 (Henriksen 90min), Robertson 6.5; Snodgrass 7, Diamande 6.5. Subs (not used): Jakupovic, Meyler, Maloney, Weir, Mason, Bowen. Booked: Snodgrass, Elmohamady. CryStal PalaCe (4-2-3-1): Hennessey 6; Kelly 5 (Campbell 80, 7), Dann 4, Delaney 4.5, Ward 5; Ledley 5.5, Puncheon 6; Zaha 8, McArthur 5.5 (Cabaye 71, 5), Townsend 5 (Fryers 46, 5.5); Benteke 6. Subs (not used): Speroni, Flamini, Lee, Phillips. Booked: Dann, McArthur, Puncheon, Cabaye. referee: M Jones 4.