Crystal Palace vs Cardiff City. Premier League.
Selhurst ParkAttendance25,206.
Highlights and report as Cardiff draw 0-0 with Crystal Palace
Wednesday 26 December 2018 19:00, UK
Cardiff escaped Selhurst Park with a valuable point after Crystal Palace missed a host of chances in a 0-0 draw.
Palace were unlucky not to take the lead in a dominant first half that saw Andros Townsend hit the bar and near misses from Wilfried Zaha, Luka Milivojevic and Townsend again.
Cardiff struggled in the second half to resist a Palace onslaught but somehow stayed level thanks to the woodwork, some wayward finishing from Palace's strikers, and a series of saves by keeper Neil Etheridge.
The result means that Cardiff stay out the relegation zone while Palace remain in 14th place.
Palace could have taken the lead after just two minutes when Townsend hit the bar after fine work by Zaha to play him through.
Townsend then had another great opportunity when Patrick van Aanholt set him up just outside the box, while Milivojevic, Zaha, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka also went close from distance.
Cardiff finally had chances through Junior Hoilett and Bobby Reid, but were very lucky to get into the break level after Palace continued to push for an opener.
Zaha worked tirelessly in the second half to create chance upon chance for an Eagles side that struggled desperately for accuracy, and when they did hit the target they were met with the very safe hands of Cardiff stopper Neil Etheridge.
Etheridge, however, was rooted when Milivojevic curled a free-kick in from 23 yards that struck the crossbar, and could only watch as Connor Wickham missed a glorious opportunity from six yards.
Cardiff had a chance of their own towards the end but were denied by a fine save from Vicente Guaita. Cardiff 'keeper Etheridge also pulled enough another fine save to deny Van Aanholt in the final minutes.
The result means that Cardiff stay just afloat of the relegation zone, while Palace keep distance between themselves at the bottom in 14th, though they will be disappointed they didn't take all three points today.
Palace manager Roy Hodgson: "We really took the game to Cardiff, but they were defending doggedly and with a lot of players behind the ball and making it difficult for us of course, but to get 32 shots, 24 in the second half,
and hit the cross bar, and force some saves, unfortunately it wouldn't find the net for us today."
Cardiff manager Neil Warnock: "We knew we were gonna be up against it, but I thought we prepared really good, I thought the lads were really in for it, and after that first ten minutes when we were a little bit apprehensive I thought we grew into the game before half time."
We've shot ourselves in the foot so many times by giving away elementary goals, especially last week against Manchester United. We had to be a lot sharper and we changed things and i'm pleased we did now, we looked solid but we also looked capable of scoring."
Palace have a three-day break before hosting Chelsea live on Sky Sports Premier League, while Cardiff visit Leicester on December 29.
Heroics from Neil Etheridge helped Cardiff escape with a point. A top-class performance.
