Crystal Palace 0 Newcastle 0 – Eagles can’t make chances count as they drop points in SE25

Despite having a host of chances, Crystal Palace failed to secure victory over Newcastle as they could only secure a goalless draw at Selhurst Park.

James McArthur headed over from close range in the opening minute after an excellent Andros Townsend cross.

It took 10 minutes for the visitors to record their first opportunity after Ayoze Perez robbed a dallying James Tomkins of the ball and raced towards goal but his shot was tame and Wayne Hennessey saved with ease.

Palace were the brighter side throughout and had another chance to go ahead just four minutes later when Luka Milivojevic saw his strong effort palmed away by Martin Dubravka. The keeper then saved well from Cheikhou Kouyate shortly after as his shot looked to be destined for the bottom corner.

Jamaal Lascelles was presented with a free header in the Palace area but glanced it across the face of goal.

Newcastle failed to halt the hosts’ relative dominance on the game and Milivojevic almost put his side ahead when his 37th minute free-kick cannoned back off the post.

The early period of the second half saw the visitors find themselves with the better of the game, with Joselu firing a banana kick at Hennessey.

The game began to ebb and flow, but was largely scrappy. Christian Atsu tested Hennessey from 20 yards but the Palace keeper was equal to it.

With eight minutes remaining, Mamadou Sakho was presented with a golden opportunity to win the game but contrived to head wide from two yards out.

The final chance of the game came to Wilfried Zaha but Palace’s star man could only thrash the ball across the face of goal and wide with a minute of normal time remaining.

Palace will feel that for all their dominance they ought to have won, but failed to convert opportunities. This was very much two points dropped.