Swansea City have made it three Premier League games unbeaten after holding in-form Crystal Palace to a goalless draw at Selhurst Park on Monday afternoon.
The majority of the opportunities in the English capital came in the second half, but neither could make the breakthrough as Palace missed the chance to close the gap on the top four in the table, while Swansea remain just outside the drop zone.
© Getty Images
There was not really a clear chance of note in an opening 45 minutes that did not bring a shot on target from either team, but Palace did have the better of it.
Wilfried Zaha's pace proved problematic for Swansea in the early exchanges and the former Manchester United attacker almost set up Marouane Chamakh inside five minutes, but Ashley Williams was on hand to clear.
Mile Jedinak had a half-chance from a header as the first period developed, but that was just about as good as it got in terms of opportunities, with Swansea struggling to make their mark in the opening 45 minutes of action.
Palace's frustration was shown when Yohan Cabaye picked up the game's first booking for a rash challenge on Jack Cork as the two teams entered the interval on level terms.
The hosts came close to opening the scoring early in the second half when Cabaye delivered a free kick onto the head of Brede Hangeland, but Lukasz Fabianski was across his goal to make a fine save.
© AFP
The contest continued to open up as the second period gathered pace, but the score was still level approaching the hour as Swansea's interim boss Alan Curtis made a double change.
Modou Barrow showed good feet to work a yard outside the Palace box in the 63rd minute, but his rasping strike from the edge of the box was pushed wide by Wayne Hennessey as Swansea enjoyed their best spell of the match. Jordi Amat was next to come close for the visitors in the 69th minute, but the centre-back could not convert from close range.
Fabianski made another save 15 minutes from time, the goalkeeper keeping out a close-range effort from Patrick Bamford, who looked certain to score from inside the box.
Jordan Mutch, Zaha and Gylfi Sigurdsson all came close late on as both sides went for the win, but Swansea held on to secure a share of the spoils and continue their decent run of form over the last couple of weeks.
Matt Law
