Crystal Palace 2 Burnley 2

Would it be the one that beat QPR and Leicester City so convincingly in their first two games - or would it be the one that had miserably succumbed to Wolves and Hartlepool in the last seven days?

Fortunately for the 651 Burnley fans who made the journey down to south London it was the former.

And the real Burnley didn't just stand up on Saturday. It jumped up and danced all over Selhurst Park.

For the first 45 minutes, the Clarets produced some of their best football of the season, football that Peter Taylor's promotion favourites had no answer to.

In fact, as Alan Mahon orchestrated proceedings from the centre of the park, the Eagles were flying about all over the place, chasing shadows.

Palace captain Carl Fletcher, signed from West Ham in the summer, was made to look ordinary by born-again Micah Hyde, who took his place sitting just in front of the back four.

John McGreal was welcomed into the fold in the absence of captain Wayne Thomas and he looked like he'd never been away, marshalling the back line, and keeping the lively Dougie Freedman and James Scowcroft at bay.

The Scotsman has proved to be a real thorn in the Clarets side in recent seasons, bagging a goal last season and previously netting a hat-trick, back in 2004.

But the Palace favourite was restricted to just half chances from a stubborn Burnley rear guard.

It was more than just coincidence that the Clarets finally conceded after the experienced centre-back McGreal was forced off injured at the interval.

But even after that minor setback, Burnley stuck to their task and refused to give up.

Kyle Lafferty has had many column inches written about him since scoring the winning goal for Northern Ireland against Finland.

And he is sure to get some more after bundling home to put Burnley back in front.

Unfortunately James Scowcroft, who chose to sign for Coventry City last season ahead of a time at Turf Moor, ultimately ensured a share of the spoils.

But Burnley could head up the M1 proud of their display. Every single player played their part. And, unlike their previous two games, so did the team.

None moreso than Danish keeper Brian Jensen, who ultimately kept his side in the game with three world class saves as the minutes ticked away.

A win for the Eagles, however, would have been nothing short of daylight robbery.

Even as it stood at the end of the 90 minutes, the Clarets could consider themselves desperately unlucky not to take all three points.

At the start of the game the tannoy blasted out the Dave Clark Five classic hit "Glad All Over". And as the referee signalled the end of the match it was the Palace fans who breathed the greater sigh of relief.

Cotterill made three changes from the midweek Carling Cup defeat to Hartlepool.

Skipper Thomas missed out after his red card, and that meant a first start of the season for former fans player of the year McGreal, in the heart of defence.

Stephen Foster dropped to the bench in place of Frank Sinclair, who was handed the captain's armband.

And Hyde was re-instated into the starting 11 after a fleeting substitute appearance during the week.

Andy Gray was employed as a loan striker with Kyle Lafferty and Steve Jones providing support from the flanks.

The 4-5-1 formation almost paid immediate dividends as Burnley got off to a flier.

Jones got the better of his man on the left after just five minutes and whipped in a cross that Mark Hudson desperately deflected over his own crossbar.

And the Clarets continued to pile on the pressure with Michael Duff next to threaten. The Northern Ireland defender was unmarked in the box but he just couldn't connect with Alan Mahon's free kick.

Palace looked nervous but they managed their first half-chance after 14 minutes when James Scowcroft found Dougie Freedman inside the area but the little striker volleyed inches wide.

Gray went close with a header before the Eagles made their second serious foray into the Burnley half - and paid the price by conceding the opening goal.

McGreal blocked Freedman superbly inside the area, Harley picked up the loose ball and passed up the field to Gray.

The striker picked out a beautiful pass up the line to Jones who turned and twisted before squaring for Mahon who calmly passed the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

It was just what their early pressure deserved and just what Mahon's fantastic play merited, and they almost doubled their lead minutes later when Hudson was forced to head inches wide of the post from a Lafferty cross.

Palace eventually got a foothold in the game after 35 minutes and were unlucky not to level when Scowcroft latched onto a knock down and his shot cannoned off the post.

But it was against the run of play when the Eagles equalised minutes after the interval. Gray was adjudged to have fouled yards inside his own half and Mark Kennedy's free kick was headed past Jensen by Leon Cort.

Their lead lasted only three minutes thanks to young Lafferty who slid in at the back post ahead of Danny Granville and bundled home a wickedly deflected Steve Jones cross.

The game was being played at a frenetic pace and Freedman could have equalised just seconds later when Jensen's poor punch fell to his feet, but he couldn't keep his shot down and the ball flew a foot over the bar.

At the other end Gray should have added a third for the Clarets. The former Sunderland striker won the ball off Butterfield in the centre and raced in on goal, only to be thwarted by a last ditch, perfectly timed tackle from Kennedy.

But Palace were back on level terms courtesy of another teasing cross and another headed goal, this time Scowcroft providing the finishing touch.

Foster almost put the Clarets ahead - again - but he was robbed by the woodwork.

And with time ticking away the match was transformed into the "Brian Jensen show". Jobi McAnuff waltzed past Foster, Hyde and Sinclair but he couldn't get past the big Dane between the sticks who palmed his effort wide.

Hudson was then denied with another spectacular one-handed save before Jensen capped an amazing five minutes by tipping Kennedy's long shot over the bar.

Overall, it was a royal performance at Palace that will help to banish the bad memories of the last week for the Clarets.