January 25 2006

The huddle

Crystal Palace lost ground on the leaders after being held to a 0-0 draw at Southampton.

Palace maintained their unbeaten run of one defeat in 11 games but were left to rue a number of missed chances.

Andy Johnson missed the target with a lobbed effort over keeper Bartosz Bialowski after 20 minutes. Seconds later, an unmarked Kenwyne Jones nodded wide for the Saints. And right on half-time Marian Pahars forced Gabor Kiraly into a decent stop.

Three minutes into the second period, Johnson volleyed Michael Hughes' cross over and on 64 fired Wayne Andrews' pass off target.

On 73, Jobi McAnuff went close after a surging run and cross into the box as Johnson couldn't follow-up the rebound.

Eight minutes from time, Dougie Freedman set up Johnson to score, but the "goal" was disallowed for offside.

Kiraly kept Palace in the game with a fine stop to thwart Pahars in the 89th minute, before deep into added time, Johnson wasted a near-perfect Hughes' cross to nod over.

Palace: Kiraly, Hall, Hudson, Ward, Boyce, Soares, Watson (Andrews 62), Hughes, McAnuff (Morrison 84), Johnson, Macken (Freedman 62).

Subs Not Used: Speroni, Leigertwood.

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