Nottingham Forest's winning streak came to an end, but David McGoldrick earned them a deserved point.
Palace went ahead when Darren Ambrose blasted a free-kick past keeper Lee Camp and in off the bar.
Forest equalised when Lewis McGugan crossed from the right and McGoldrick slid in unchallenged to steer the ball past helpless keeper Julian Speroni.
Camp denied Palace a winner by keeping out a volley from Ambrose and a late effort from ex-Forest man Stern John.
The scoreline was overshadowed by an incident on the stroke of half-time when Palace defender Clint Hill appeared to elbow Forest winger Paul Anderson, sparking a melee in front of the dug-outs.
Hill and Forest right-back Chris Gunter were booked for squaring up to each other during the skirmish, but escaped further punishment after referee Graham Horwood decided the challenge was not deliberate.
Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock after hearing Davies had described his side as physical and hard to handle:
"I think that's a disgraceful statement. If I'd spent nearly £4.5m on players, I'd probably say a bit less than that.
"He should keep his mouth shut and as how come we carved them up so often and created so many chances.
"I thought the challenge on Paul Anderson was a yellow card, not a red card. It was a reckless challenge but it wasn't deliberate."
Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies told BBC Radio Nottingham:
"When you look at the way Neil [Warnock, Crystal Palace manager] sets his sides up, it's a very difficult game for a young, maturing side.
"It was a big test - physically and mentally. They had to play a certain game. It certainly wasn't pretty.
"I'm delighted with a point. It was a tremendous battling performance."
90:00+3:53 Foul by Stern John on Kelvin Wilson, free kick awarded. Lee Camp restarts play with the free kick.
90:00+2:50 The referee penalises Luke Chambers for handball. Danny Butterfield restarts play with the free kick.
90:00+1:34 Corner taken right-footed by Neil Danns, save by Lee Camp.
90:00+1:13 Stern John takes a shot. Save by Lee Camp.
90:00+0:13 Substitution Lee Hills replaces Darren Ambrose.
87:15 Corner taken by Chris Cohen.
86:45 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Chris Cohen.
Correction - 84:36 Corner from the left by-line taken by Darren Ambrose, Paul McKenna makes a clearance.
84:36 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Darren Ambrose, Paul McKenna makes a clearance.
80:22 Substitution Joe Garner comes on in place of Nathan Tyson.
79:08 Foul by Luke Chambers on Victor Moses, free kick awarded. Strike on goal comes in from Darren Ambrose from the free kick, blocked by Neil Danns.
78:34 Effort from long distance by Stern John goes wide of the right-hand upright.
77:39 Foul by Johannes Ertl on David McGoldrick, free kick awarded. David McGoldrick takes the free kick.
76:56 Patrick McCarthy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lee Camp. Lee Camp restarts play with the free kick.
76:16 Unfair challenge on Johannes Ertl by Paul McKenna results in a free kick. Darren Ambrose delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, clearance by Lee Camp.
75:13 Shaun Derry takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.
73:23 Free kick awarded for a foul by Stern John on Wes Morgan. Free kick taken by Lee Camp.
71:34 Foul by Jose Fonte on David McGoldrick, free kick awarded. A cross is delivered by Chris Cohen, Headed effort on goal by Nathan Tyson from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the goal.
69:29 Booking Victor Moses goes into the referee's book.
67:38 Free kick taken by Lee Camp.
67:38 Substitution Lewis McGugan leaves the field to be replaced by Luke Chambers.
67:38 Kelvin Wilson fouled by Stern John, the ref awards a free kick.
67:01 Chris Cohen takes a shot. Save by Julian Speroni.
62:40 Substitution Stern John replaces Alan Lee.
62:00 Inswinging corner taken by Darren Ambrose, save by Lee Camp.
61:10 Darren Ambrose takes a shot. Save made by Lee Camp.
59:59 Patrick McCarthy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David McGoldrick. Kelvin Wilson takes the indirect free kick. Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Alan Lee by Kelvin Wilson. Danny Butterfield takes the free kick.
59:37 Garath McCleary produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that clears the bar.
58:59 Foul by Victor Moses on Chris Gunter, free kick awarded. Lee Camp takes the free kick.
55:47 Inswinging corner taken by Lewis McGugan.
54:17 Dele Adebola takes a shot. Julian Speroni makes a save. Victor Moses produces a right-footed shot from close in that clears the bar.
52:05 Foul by Chris Gunter on Victor Moses, free kick awarded. Darren Ambrose fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
50:47 Wes Morgan fouled by Alan Lee, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Lee Camp.
50:14 Dele Adebola gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Patrick McCarthy. Danny Butterfield takes the direct free kick.
47:37 Assist by Lewis McGugan.
47:37 GOAL - David McGoldrick:Crystal Palace 1 - 1 Nottm Forest David McGoldrick gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the six-yard box to the top left corner of the goal. Crystal Palace 1-1 Nottm Forest.
46:44 Foul by Kelvin Wilson on Alan Lee, free kick awarded. Jose Fonte takes the free kick.
45:01 The second half begins.
Half Time
45:00+3:28 The ref blows to signal half-time.
45:00+1:04 Lee Camp restarts play with the free kick.
45:00+1:04 Substitution Garath McCleary on for Paul Anderson.
45:00+1:04 Booking Chris Gunter booked for unsporting behaviour.
45:00+0:39 Booking The referee books Clint Hill for unsporting behaviour.
44:24 Clint Hill concedes a free kick for a foul on Paul Anderson.
43:03 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Chris Gunter by Victor Moses. Lee Camp takes the indirect free kick.
39:35 GOAL - Darren Ambrose:Crystal Palace 1 - 0 Nottm Forest Free kick scored by Darren Ambrose. Crystal Palace 1-0 Nottm Forest.
38:56 Unfair challenge on Neil Danns by Kelvin Wilson results in a free kick.
36:20 Foul by Wes Morgan on Alan Lee, free kick awarded. Darren Ambrose has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.
34:43 Corner taken right-footed by Darren Ambrose from the left by-line, save by Lee Camp.
33:38 Substitution Victor Moses replaces Freddie Sears.
30:22 The referee blows for offside. Jose Fonte takes the indirect free kick.
28:52 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kelvin Wilson by Alan Lee. Free kick taken by Paul McKenna.
26:00 Alan Lee takes a shot. Save made by Lee Camp.
25:04 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Chris Cohen, clearance by Patrick McCarthy.
24:39 Paul Anderson takes a shot. Save by Julian Speroni.
20:55 Inswinging corner taken by Chris Cohen from the right by-line, clearance made by Clint Hill.
19:03 Corner taken by Darren Ambrose from the left by-line, Header on goal by Patrick McCarthy from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
17:23 Patrick McCarthy challenges Chris Gunter unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Paul McKenna.
15:09 Patrick McCarthy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kelvin Wilson. Lee Camp restarts play with the free kick.
13:10 Corner taken right-footed by Darren Ambrose, Lee Camp makes a save.
12:16 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Patrick McCarthy by Dele Adebola. The ball is crossed by Danny Butterfield, Clint Hill takes a shot. Save made by Lee Camp.
10:13 Inswinging corner taken by Chris Cohen.
7:06 Nathan Tyson has a headed effort from close range and clears the bar.
6:24 Darren Ambrose gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chris Gunter. Direct free kick taken by Chris Cohen.
Correction - 4:45 Corner taken by Darren Ambrose played to the near post.
4:45 Paul Anderson takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post.
3:49 Foul by Freddie Sears on Chris Gunter, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Paul Anderson, Darren Ambrose takes a shot. Save by Julian Speroni.
Correction - 2:03 Paul Anderson takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by Patrick McCarthy.
2:03 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Lewis McGugan.
0:00 The referee starts the match.
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