No goals between Palace and Everton

Cape Town - Crystal Palace and Everton were unable to break the deadlock as they played out a 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park on Wednesday.

The match got off to a flying start, with Toffees goalkeeper Joel Robles called into action as early as the fourth minute to block Yannick Bolasie's long-range drive down low. A couple of minutes later and Dwight Gayle's effort looped towards the top corner but only kissed the woodwork on it's way out of play.

Everton had their first glimpse of goal two minutes later when Romelu Lukaku set Ross Barkley free into the box, but Palace defender Joel Ward was able to deny the youngster with a crucial block.

The match then calmed down a bit until the 21st minute, when Leighton Baines went on a trademark marauding overlap down the left flank and looped a cross in towards the back post where Seamus Coleman was waiting with a volley, but Wayne Hennessey was there to push it round the post.

A couple of minutes later and Baines was blitzed by Wilfried Zaha, who decided to have a crack from a tight angle but only fired it over the bar.

Hennessey was forced into another save in the 27th minute when Arouna Kone worked a shooting opportunity, before making another crucial interception to deny Lukaku after the Belgian was picked out by Barkley.

Gayle came close to a spectacular opener in the 35th minute with a cheeky overhead kick that flew narrowly wide with Robles beaten, but the teams went in at halftime with the deadlock intact.

The second half picked up where the first left off, and Barkley had the first chance of the second period with a curler from distance that struck the crossbar.

But Everton were dealt a blow in the 52nd minute when James McCarthy picked up his second yellow card of the night for a foul on Bolasie, and the Republic of Ireland international was off.

The Eagles came close twice in quick succession when Jason Puncheon saw his effort at goal parried by Robles, who also had to deny Yohan Cabaye on the rebound. The next chance fell to Everton and John Stones from a corner, but the centre-back's header was straight at the goalkeeper.

Emmanuel Adebayor also squandered a few late opportunities for Palace after coming on to replace Bolasie in the 66th minute, but the 10-man Toffees were able to hold on to claim a point.