Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has a team selection dilemma as his side drew at Crystal Palace to earn an FA Cup Fifth Round replay which will take place just four days before the Carling Cup Final at Wembley.

Palace were leading 2-1 with three minutes to go when Aston Villa were awarded a corner by referee Kevin Friend on the say-so of his assistant referee Trevor Massey. Stiliyan Petrov scored the equaliser with a header from the resulting corner, which means the clubs will have to replay at Villa Park a week on Wednesday for the right to travel to West Brom or Reading in the quarter final.

Earlier Johnny Ertl put Palace ahead with a first-half header which was equalised by a carbon-copy effort from James Collins. It looked as if Palace had pulled off the upset, however, when Darren Ambrose fired home a thunderbolt of a free kick, only for Petrov to poach the equaliser.

O'Neill said: "We have to negotiate Burnley first of all next week. We'll see how we come out of that game. But Petrov did not risk life and limb to head the ball into the net for us to give it up easily.

"It would have been great to have a spare week to prepare for the Carling Cup final. It's not going to happen. It's not ideal.

"I'm delighted to be in the cup but Crystal Palace will still have a big say in it.

"I thought Palace played with a lot of determination and spirit and I hoped we could respond to that. For the most part we did but we lost our way for a bit in the second half.

"But it is the FA Cup, a splendid competition and we'd love to stay in it. If we've got a bit of luck from the corner kick then I'll take that if that's the case."

However, Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock accused a referee's assistant of "incompetence" after seeing his hopes of an FA Cup shock dashed at Selhurst Park.

Warnock, however, claimed the corner which led to Petrovs goal came off a Villa player, Nathan Delfouneso, which appeared to be supported by television evidence.

Warnock said: "It's disappointing. It's bitter. Mr Massey says if he's got it wrong he will be suspended for a couple of games. I said to him 'When you're sat on your settee when you're suspended will you think about us?'

"A referee and a linesman should see from that position that it is a goalkick and not a corner. They've both waited, the ref's asked him (Massey) and the thing is he didn't see it really. He gave it to Aston Villa and they score a goal.

"The referee had a great game. He was let down by somebody who had a very poor game and I don't feel any sympathy if he is suspended. Personally I hope it is a long time.

"Does he realise how hard it is at a club who can't even afford this, that and the other? We came up against a top side and we're giving absolutely everything for the cause and we are not let down by a football matter. We are let down by incompetence."

Warnock, however, was at least delighted that Palace, who went into administration with £30million debts a fortnight ago, now stand to pick up the best part of £500,000 in television cash for the two matches.

"We wanted to take them back there (Villa Park) if we are honest," said Warnock. "Let's get up there and then get on with the league.

"If they have a decent day and we don't there's only one team going to win it.

"The team Martin O'Neill put out was a fabulous compliment to us. We weren't far away. I can't explain how proud I am. That's what makes it so sad. It was a fantastic game. Villa have had to roll their sleeves up today to stay in this cup."