Timmy Breacker used the game to give Dan Shittu a 45-minute workout as he began his comeback from the cruciate ligament injury he sustained in the Carling Cup win at Sheffield United. There were also starts for youth team players Chris Mills and Lee Barnett as the kids got a chance to shine against Crippled Alice. John Fletcher and Dean Sylvester also managed a trot out off the bench.

The R's fell behind to a dubious penalty only for Richard Pacquette to level things up with a second half header from a Dennis Oli centre. There were three trialists on show tonight and no doubt left sided players will have been the focus of attention.

Breacker said of the game, "Once we had the equaliser I expected us to go on, but we looked a little tired towards the end and Palace could have nicked it. But overall we did very well against a considerably more experienced side and I was very pleased with the display".

Regardless of how much meaning is held by results in these games Breacker will no doubt have been pleased to see his charges get a point, even if it was in this ridiculous cup that nobody understands.