Crystal Palace 0-0 Newcastle: Dominant Palace held by winless Newcastle

Crystal Palace could not find a way through an unambitious Newcastle side as the pair played out a drab 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park.

Palace's Mamadou Sakho had the best chance of the game in the final 10 minutes when he headed wide of an unguarded goal from Andros Townsend's cross.

The visitors played much of the game in their own half, but did have opportunities, notably when James Tomkins was caught in possession by Ayoze Perez early on but his weak shot was held by Wayne Hennessey.

Newcastle are still seeking their first win with six games gone, while Palace are yet to pick up their first home victory, having lost two and drawn one of their three games at Selhurst Park.

Rafa Benitez had suggested this would be a game where his side would look to attack, but Palace's 10 shots to Newcastle's three before half-time told its own story, for once of the onlooking Mike Ashley, who was the subject of ridicule from the club's fans for much of the game.

Wilfried Zaha shook off a pre-match scare when he disappeared from the warm-up clutching his back to take on an unusually deep role, but still orchestrated much of Palace's play as they pressed forward in numbers.

Despite that, it was Newcastle who had the better of the early chances. Perez robbed Tomkins and strode through, only to fail to register enough power on his shot to test Hennessey, before Jamal Lascelles put a near-post header wide when unmarked at a corner.

Palace came closest when Luka Milivojevic's free-kick from the left beat everyone and rebounded off the post, and it was more a case of near-misses for the hosts before half-time.

They were let off shortly after the break too, when Joselu's drive from Matt Ritchie's header was simple enough for Hennessey.

But in the final 15 minutes, they really began to turn the screw in a half where they ended with 66 per cent of possession, and Sakho had the goal gaping when Andros Townsend crossed from the left, but he somehow headed wide of the near post from barely four yards.

Late on, Townsend saw a shot smothered behind by Martin Dubravka, but Palace were left frustrated on an afternoon where the weather was just as poor as the quality on show from either side.

Opta stats

• Crystal Palace have won just one of their last 11 Premier League games against Newcastle United (W1 D5 L5) - a 5-1 victory at Selhurst Park in November 2015.
• Newcastle have failed to win on 17 of their last 20 Premier League games in London (W3 D3 L14).
• Crystal Palace have failed to score in three consecutive Premier League home matches for the first time since September 2017.
• Newcastle have scored just four Premier League goals this season, one fewer than former striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has netted for Fulham (5).
• Following a run of four wins in a row, Newcastle have won just one of their last 11 Premier League matches, drawing two and losing eight.
• Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey has kept a clean sheet in four of his last seven Premier League appearances, including in each of the last two.

Man of the match - Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Wan-Bissaka gave Paul Dummett a tough afternoon down the Palace right, producing three crosses and making more passes in the opposition half than anyone else on the field.

But in addition, he made three interceptions and five tackles, showing his importance at both ends of the field, and was a livewire around the pitch at Selhurst Park.

What's next?

Crystal Palace travel to West Brom, one of Roy Hodgson's former clubs, in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday at 8pm. Newcastle's next game is at home to Leicester next Saturday at 3pm.

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