The big-spending Foxes, surprisingly beaten by Blackpool on the opening day, were on course for victory when DJ Campbell and Patrick Kisnorbo cancelled out Stuart Green's first-half opener to put them ahead with three minutes remaining.

Clinton Morrison denied the Foxes victory, however, with a stoppage-time equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw.

But Allen, who has brought in 14 new players since taking over and gave debuts to on-loan Sunderland pair Marton Fulop and Clive Clarke, refused to be downbeat.

"I thought it was fantastic. I'm in charge of performances over a season and with enough good performances the points will come and we played well today," he said.

"We were confident, we passed the ball well in the first half, and in the second half I urged them to have more self-belief and it was a fantastic, positive response. I'm delighted with the players.

"Palace scored four away from home last week so we know how dangerous they can be. We had four debuts last Saturday and another two today, so we haven't had a great deal of time to work with them.

"Now we have international week coming up and half of them will be going away, so it will take a bit of time to get them all working together, but we are moving in the right direction, no doubt about it."

Green fired Palace ahead with a blistering free-kick in the first half after Kisnorbo had held back Morrison on the edge of the penalty area.

Campbell, a £2.1million summer signing from Birmingham, tapped in an equaliser in the 63rd minute after Kisnorbo's towering header was blocked on the goal-line.

And Australian centre-half Kisnorbo, making his first start of the season following a suspension, was left all alone at a second corner to nod Leicester ahead.

"It's a boost to have Patrick back, he's been fantastic in training and champing at the bit to play," added Allen. "He oozes confidence and he's a winner."

Morrison ensured Palace, who were marooned in mid-table last season, remain unbeaten following their 4-1 thumping of Southampton last week when he pounced at the far post to tuck away Danny Butterfield's free-kick.

"I don't think we played anything like as well as last Saturday, it was not a particularly good performance with the ball, but the togetherness and the spirit were excellent," said boss Peter Taylor, himself an ex-Leicester manager.

"We got hit with two poor goals - the same person got away from the same person twice - but we kept going and I'm delighted for Clinton to get another goal.

"To get done by two set-pieces is disappointing but I'm confident we will correct that. I bet we don't keep doing it."

Palace, fresh from thumping Southampton 4-1 in their first game, looked more like a team of strangers until Green struck.

Foxes captain Stephen Clemence warmed Julian Speroni's hands with an angled drive and James Wesolowski dragged a shot wide as Leicester threatened early on.

Palace finally mustered an attempt after 25 minutes, but James Scowcroft's header from Tony Craig's cross ended up nearer the corner flag than the goal.

But they were ahead in the 33rd minute when Kisnorbo held back Morrison on the edge of the area and Green drilled the resulting free-kick low through the wall and past the flat-footed Fulop.

The hosts would have doubled their lead shortly before the interval but for a superb reaction save from Fulop to keep out Matt Lawrence's shot.

Leicester squandered a gilt-edged chance just after the break when Shaun Newton reached the byline and swung in a deep cross which fell perfectly for Alan Sheehan, but the midfielder crashed the ball over the crossbar from 10 yards.

Speroni was then forced to tip over a heavily-deflected Clemence shot before Newton headed Levi Porter's cross wide.

But Leicester's pressure finally told in the 63rd minute when Kisnorbo headed Clemence's corner goalwards and Campbell was on hand to poke the ball over the goal-line.

Mark Hudson passed up an excellent chance when he headed Mark Kennedy's free-kick straight at Fulop, while sub Dougie Freedman wastefully skied a free-kick.

Fulop was almost cast as the villain when he palmed Tom Soares' hopeful cross straight to Hudson, but the Palace defender harmlessly volleyed the ball straight back at the grateful keeper.

And moments later City, who were surprisingly beaten by Blackpool on the opening day, were celebrating when Kisnorbo met Clemence's corner with a firm downward header past Speroni.

But Morrison had the final say when Leicester failed to clear Danny Butterfield's free-kick, the Republic of Ireland striker guiding the ball into an empty net to earn a point for his side.