Palace draw small comfort

March 5 2008

Crystal Palace wasted an opportunity to get back into the play-off hunt by drawing 0-0 at home to Cardiff.

The Welsh outfit had the better of the first half as Peter Whittingham, Paul Parry and Trevor Sinclair fired shots just wide.

Paul Ifill was forced off with a recurrance of his hamstring injury on 29 minutes to be replaced by James Scowcroft.

Three minutes later, Julian Sperni diverted Parry's header around the post.

At the start of the second period, Parry went close again, while a ramapaging run from Cardiff right-back Kevin McNaughton ended with his effort going over.

Eagles boss Neil Warnock threw on Dougie Freedman and Sean Scannell to boost their side's attack and the latter should have done better when through on goal but his shot was weak.

Ramsay was denied by a combinaton of the post and Speroni and the ball broke down the other end for Scannell who wasted the shot.

In the 77th minute, Clinton Morrison should have won it for Palace but his close-range header from Ben Watson's deliver flew over the bar.

Palace: Speroni, Butterfield, Lawrence, Hudson, Hill, Ifill (Scowcroft 26), Fletcher (Freedman 63), Watson, Derry, Morrison, Moses (Scannell 62).

Not Used: Soares, Hills.

Cardiff: Enckelman, McNaughton, Loovens, Johnson, Capaldi, Sinclair (Ramsey 71), Scimeca (Rae 64), McPhail, Whittingham, Parry, Thompson.

Not Used: Oakes, Purse, Hasselbaink.