Crystal Palace 0 Barnsley 0

Crystal Palace failed to break down a resolute Barnsley defence to all but extinguish any hope of automatic promotion, whilst the draw lifted the visitors out of the bottom three as they continued their scrap for survival.

The game started in bizarre fashion with referee Kevin Stroud deeming both Barnsley strips clashed too heavily with the Eagles own home shirt, so Barnsley took to the field sporting the home sides own away shirts. It looked like this had confused Palace in the early stages as they started the slower of the two sides, with Jason Scotland having the best chance of the opening 15 minutes when he shot well wide from the edge of the area.

The home side grew into the game not soon afterwards and continued to dominate from then on. Neat interchanges between Moritz, Zaha and Bolasie constantly carved out chances for Holloways men, but Luke Steele in Tykes goal proved equal to everything that was thrown at him. Andre Moritz first saw his fine curling free kick saved acrobatically, before leading scorer Glenn Murray found himself one on one with Steele only to see his shot smothered by the English keeper.

Palace continued in the same vain throughout the second half, but continued to misfire. Moritz again saw his free kick saved by Steele with the keeper diving down neatly to deny the Brazilian. Then substitute striker Aaron Wilbraham three times had chances to be the Eagles hero, but failed to convert on all three occasions leaving the Palace faithful frustrated come the final whistle.

The Eagles have now gone 4 games without a goal which is seriously threatening their chances of promotion, where as Barnsley now find themselves two places above the drop zone as they continue to push for survival.

---