AT BRISTOL City last season, it was 90 minutes before Hartlepool United suffered; last night at Crystal Palace it was even later.

Pool were knocked out of the Carling Cup deep into extra-time, after a performance every bit as good and as impressive as that in last season's play-offs.

Neale Cooper's side went in front through Eifion Williams, conceded an equaliser with ten minutes of normal time to go and lost out deep into extra time.

These are the sides who suffered the ultimate in differing emotions in last season's end of season event.

Pool agonisingly lost out on a place in The Championship, while Palace won the ultimate play-off prize, a place in the Premiership.

There was the same outcome last night - Pool knocked out, Palace celebrating - but there wasn't three league places, never mind three divisions, between the sides.

Following a period of silence in memory of one-time Pool boss Brian Clough, Pool were soon on the attack. Ritchie Humphreys swung over a teasing cross from the right which just evaded Martin Woods, then a Matty Robson ball from the opposite side had the Palace defence scrambling.

It was a bright, if unspectacular, opening by Pool as they confidently moved the ball around and harrassed Palace.

Boyd tried a 30-yard shot which was deflected wide for the game's first corner on 15 minutes and Gavin Strachan's floated effort was as disappointing as most of his efforts last weekend.

Boyd and Porter were linking up well and the former was chopped down in an inviting position 25 yards out.

Without Hugh Robertson - it was in prime territory for the Scot - Robson curled his effort around the wall, but Gabor Kiraly saved.

Opposite number Jim Provett made a fine reaction save to push out Sandor Torghelle's header and then Westwood diverted a goalbound Dougie Freeman effort wide as Palace pressed for the first time.

Pool needlessly gave away possession and Torghelle found a yard of space to send a deft chip towards the top of the net, which Provett tipped over at full stretch.

But Sweeney thought he had given Pool a deserved lead on 31 minutes, when his steered volley from six yards crashed off the underside of the bar and bounced onto the line and out.

It was the closest of calls from the referee not to give the goal, but his assistant failed to assist and play contined.

Porter delightfully laid the ball into the path of marauding left-back Robson and, just as the defence opened up, Darren Powell slid in to intercept.

Two minutes after the break and Freedman planted an angled free header across goal and wide.

Porter's workrate was spot on, the Aussie never stopped running, but his downfall was a worrying habit of conceding possession to easily with a misplaced pass or lay-off and he was replaced by Eifion Williams on 55 minutes.

Ben Watson turned Strachan and fired a shot towards the bottom corner, before Provett's full-length intervention.

In front of just 4,233 - a crowd 252 down on Pool's home attendance on Saturday - Nelson won a header on the edge of the Palace area, only for the ball to bounce away from Sweeney and Tinkler, nestled inside the six yard area.

Boyd and Woods linked up for the latter to send over a fierce cross which was sliced away for a corner.

Strachan's effort found Nelson, was returned to the midfielder, crossed again, Nelson's shot was pushed out by Kiraly and Williams was there to add the polish.

There wasn't many inside Selhurst Park, but few could argue that Pool didn't deserve the lead.

But Palace hit back. Freedman looked a certain scorer from three yards out, but somehow Provett kept out his low effort.

Robson and Provett then contrived to keep out Ivan Kaviedes, but a minute later Scottish international Freedman reacted first after another majestic Provett block to level from eight yards.

Palace finally had their tails up and Provett again pushed out a drive from the goalscorer.

The previous night, Provett won the North-East Save of the Season award for 2003-4. Last night he staked his claim for next year's award, with a number of top drawer blocks.

In a flat extra-time period, with penalties looming, a corner from the right was backheeled towards goal by Kaviedes and fellow substitutue Tom Soares rifled in a low shot.