Unfortunate is not normally a word associated with Ipswich Town defender Tony Mowbray.

Town's player/coach has been on a memorable journey during a career which has spanned a remarkable 18-year period and taken him to just three clubs.

Middlesbrough and Scottish giants Glasgow Celtic were the First to profit from his leadership qualities, but it is at Ipswich where he has made his home.

His undoubted ability as a player, transferred to a role on the backroom staff in the summer, has long been admired.

Certainly he has had bigger setbacks in his career than the one which befell him at Selhurst Park on Tuesday night.

He played at Boro when they were in administration and just hours from going out of business.

And the dominating centre-half was also in the Celtic side who were eclipsed by Rangers for the league championship crown in every year he was north of the border.

That is what you might deem to be unfortunate.

But football fans are notorious for short-termism. They want instant success and Mowbray's astonishing own goal at Selhurst Park denied Town a fourth straight win.

There can be little criticism aimed at the 36-year-old stalwart, who has been outstanding since his reintroduction to the Town side back in October.

The statistics certainly support his place in the side. Before manager George Burley sent out the SOS message, Town had conceded 17 goals in their opening 14 matches.

In their last six matches, Town have conceded just three goals and it is his presence which has done much to kick the promotion campaign back into gear.

His error of judgment against a Palace team fighting for their First Division lives should not affect Town's long-term pretensions aimed at Premiership football.

Mowbray's strike - when he lobbed Richard Wright from 30 yards in the 62nd minute - allowed Palace to snatch a draw after a determined second-half display.

Steve Coppell's side had taken the lead from their first attack of the match when Sweden international striker Mathias Svensson rose at the far post to head beyond Wright.

But Town were back on level terms after just 11 minutes.

Matt Holland, who turned in another non-stop display in midfield, was the man to capitalise after good work from David Johnson.

Gary Croft fed Town's leading scorer down the right touchline and he cruelly exposed Eagles defender Andrew Frampton before sending in a teasing cross for the Republic of Ireland international to stab home.

Town took control and they wnet in front when Fan Zhiyi's woeful backpass was latched on to by Johnson and he made no mistake when he drilled the ball beyond Palace keeper Fraser Digby.

But just as it looked as though Town would go on to win at a canter Palace emerged revitalised after the break.

They got their reward when Mowbray connected with Svensson's knockdown to give Palace a precious point.

Town have played two games in little over 48 hours and their tireless efforts in that period have done much to prove they are on their way to achieving their long-term goals.

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