Schlupp earns point for Crystal Palace against Aston Villa

Crystal Palace grabbed a Premier League point at Aston Villa after substitute Jeffrey Schlupp cancelled out Ollie Watkins’ goal.

With nine minutes remaining, Schlupp tapped in from Marc Guehi’s knock-down after a free-kick.

Watkins, who had been ruled out after suffering an ankle injury against Liverpool in midweek, scored his first goal of the game after 69 minutes, beating Guehi to Lucas Digne’s cross.

Danny Ings came close for Villa twice in the first eight minutes, firing wide after a darting move to the near post and volleying over from Joachim Andersen’s attempted clearance.

Palace responded positively, but Emiliano Martinez saved Wilfried Zaha’s stinging strike, and the Villa goalkeeper was also equal to Nathaniel Clyne’s low effort.

Despite a late flurry of chances, including Watkins’ miss in added time, neither team could produce a winner to increase their hopes of finishing in the top half of the table.

Palace are still in 11th place, three points behind 10th-placed Brighton, with Villa a place and a point behind them.