After Saturday's disappointing draw with Crewe, Steve Coppell confirmed what the Palace faithful already knew - that the Eagles need a new striker to halt their slide.

The current strikeforce of Lee Bradbury, Clinton Morrison and Leon McKenzie have struck just seven times between them all season, while the club have only scored five goals since Matt Jansen's departure.

After the game, a subdued Coppell said: "We needed an inventive striker, someone who can twist on nothing and put one in."

It was the Eagles inability to build a commanding lead that proved their undoing, as they failed to capitalise on the start given to them by Clinton Morrison.

After only six minutes, the 19 year old fired home after a miss-hit shot from left back Jamie Smith found him in space six yards out.

It was then expected that Palace would put Dario Gradi's side to the sword and record their first victory under their new boss.

But despite facing a bottom-of-the-table outfit who have conceded 63 goals so far this season, Palace's blunt attack just couldn't cut through their battling rear guard.

Although Bradbury with a header and then Morrison from close range both went close, it was Crewe who scored on 63 minutes when Rodney Jack headed over Kevin Miller for Dave Walton to equalise.

The introduction of Nicky Rizzo with 20 minutes remaining did inject some necessary urgency. The 19 year old fashioned the Eagles' best second-half chance after a meandering run took him to the left edge of the visitors' penalty box but his low shot went wide.

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