Palace boss Trevor Francis was relieved after Clinton Morrison rescued a point with a late equaliser against Wimbledon in the "away" game at Selhurst Park.

Francis feared the worst when his side fell behind to a seventh minute goal by Damien Francis.

But after a tactical switch just after the hour-mark, taking off Ade Akinbiyi and Simon Rodger and introducing wingers Julian Gray and Tommy Black, the Eagles managed to rescue a point with just 10 minutes to go.

Francis said: "Our chairman told me after the Wolves game that he wasn't confident of us coming from behind after we went a goal down. The statistics show that we never do.

"When we found ourselves a goal behind the chairman's comments were ringing in my ears, so I decided to change things.

"We had started very boldly with three up front and I decided to go even bolder with four up.

"The pendulum swung our way and we got the goal back and I thought the equaliser was merited."

Irish international David Connolly wasted chances to make the game safe for the Dons in the second half with two one-on-ones with the goalkeeper.

Akinbiyi also missed a couple of chances for the Eagles and he was barracked by the Wimbledon fans, but Francis backed his £2.2m signing.

He said: "Whenever you go for big-money signings, and £2m in this division is big money, you are the brunt of criticism and barracking from the opposition's fans.

"I had it when I was a player. The crowds would chant..... "what a waste of money" and I think it will help Ade when he does get his first goal."

Francis praised loan signing from Sheffield United Shaun Murphy: "In the second-half, Murphy defended very well because in an effort to get back in the game we left him isolated at times. The timings of his tackles were superb."

This Saturday, Palace entertain Sheffield United and the following Tuesday, travel to Barnsley.