Snapshot: No goals at Selhurst Park but Cardiff will be pleased with their performance, after creating a string of chances which on another night could have given the Bluebirds a much-needed three points.

Team news: Dave Jones made four changes to the side which narrowly lost to Leicester City at Ninian Park in our last league game. As expected, Glenn Loovens came back into the side in place of Darren Purse after serving his suspension. There were also recalls for Riccy Scimeca, who started his first league game for City in nearly a year, Trevor Sinclair and Steve Thomspon. Aaron Ramsey, Gavin Rae and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink dropped to the bench, possibly with Middlesbrough in the cup in mind.

Chronological report: It was Palace who saw more of the ball in the opening stages, with City working hard to get possession. The Bluebirds created the first opportunity however after good build-up play, with a Peter Whittingham strike not enough to worry Julian Speroni.

City started to get more of a hold on the game and again threatened the Palace goal in the opening stages, after Steve Thompson laid the ball back to Paul Parry on the edge of the box, who curled his shot just over the top. This time Speroni was happy to see it go over.

Recalled Trevor Sinclair had a good chance to open the scoring for the Bluebirds after 10 minutes, after getting on the end of a neat passing move from City, but saw his strike go just wide of the Palace goal one.

Palace responded on 15 minutes with their first attempt on Peter Enckelman's goal, but Clinton Morrison's header from 12 yards was comfortably over the top.

It may have been Palace who were seeing more of the ball, but the Bluebirds were looking the more dangerous. The Bluebirds again looked to attack the Palace goal with Peter Whittingham winning a corner after good work by Paul Parry. Sinclair took the resultant corner which eventually fell to Roger Johnson, whose deflected volley won City another corner in a good spell of pressure, but this time Palace managed to clear their lines. City continued to look the more likely to score and Paul Parry was unlucky to see his snap-shot blocked by Mark Hudson after 20 minutes.

Neil Warnock was then forced into his first change of the night, with James Scowcroft coming on for the injured Paul Ifill.

Palace substitution - James Scowcroft for Paul Ifill (26 mins)

Chances were not at a premium as both sides got stuck in and fought for the ball, but it was City who again threatened on the half-hour mark. The Bluebirds won a free-kick on the edge of the area after Parry was fouled by Matt Lawrence, but Trevor Sinclair's strike went straight into the defensive wall.

City then had the best chance of the game so far to take the lead when Roger Johnson got on the end of a Tony Capaldi cross, but Speroni managed to claw it round the post for another city corner.

Peter Enckelman finally had something to do on 35 minutes as he easily claimed a Moses cross as Palace looked to create something. Moses was again involved moments later as he won a corner off Kevin McNaughton, with the Palace fans screaming for a penalty. Enclekman looked strong in the air again as he rose easily to claim a Butterfield cross. Palace were beginning to look more threatening.

And their confidence continued in their best spell of the game as Clinton Morrison surged forward and found Ben Watson, who's fierce cross-shot almost found a touch off Moses, but went wide of the City goal.

But City kept battling away and won a fifth corner five minutes before half-time, after a Hudson clearance from a whipped Capaldi cross went over his own bar when it could have gone anywhere.

It was end to end stuff as Palace nearly took the lead in bizarre fashion just before half-time. A Palace corner was almost headed into his own goal by Sinclair but City managed to escape and go in at half-time level. It was a much improved performance from the weekend from Cardiff, who on another day could easily have been in front at the break.

Half-time: Crystal Palace 0 v 0 Cardiff City

The second period started in similar fashion to the first, with Palace having more of the ball but City looking dangerous on the break. And five minutes into the second half, Thompson nearly scored without realising it, as Hudson's shaky clearance hit him in the chest but fell wide of the Palace goal.

City had an even better chance to open the scoring moments later after Parry broke the off-side trap after being played in by Whittingham, but his shot was just off-target. And

McNaughton was the next city player to miss a great chance on the hour, after a great run which opened up for him left him with a sight on goal, but his finish showed why he is a defender as he blasted the ball over the top when he should have done better.

Palace seemed to lack ideas and only had poor strikes from Watson and Fletcher to smile about which didn't trouble Encklemen. Sensing his side were struggling, Neil Warnock went for broke and used his final two substitutions, sending on Sean Scannell in place of Moses and Dougie Freedman for Carl Fletcher.

Palace substitutions - Sean Scannell and Dougie Freedman for Victor Moses and Carl Fletcher (62 mins).

Dave Jones also made his first change, with Gavin Rae replacing Ricardo Scimeca, who played for an hour in his return from injury.

Cardiff substitution - Gavin Rae for Riccy Scimeca (63 mins)

Warnock's changes rejuvenated Palace, with Scannell especially looking lively. He almost immediately had the required impact after finding himself through but Encklemen got down well to save.

The Bluebirds were still looking the more likely to score however, and a lovely McPhail pass to Parry almost paid dividends. Parry cut inside to the box but couldn't find a city player, as the final ball was proving to be city's nemesis on the night.

Cardiff continued to press, and great work by Gavin Rae resulted in a free-kick deep inside the city half. Before play restarted Dave made his second change of the night, brining on young Aaron Ramsey in place of the hard-working Trevor Sinclair.

Cardiff substitution - Aaron Ramsey for Trevor Sinclair (70 mins).

And from the free-kick Thompson saw his effort go just wide as the Bluebirds missed another chance to take the lead.

City were throwing everything forward in search of a goal and almost found it minutes later, as Ramsey saw his strike cannon off a post after he had Speroni well beaten. It was so unlucky for the young midfielder, who as having a positive impact on the game.

Palace then had their best chance to open scoring when Scannell found himself with only Capaldi to get past, but he smashed his shot high and wide as the City fans held their breath.

And there was an even better chance for the Eagles moments later, when Clinton Morrison headed over when he should have scored from six yards.

It certainly didn't feel like a 0 v 0 as both sides tried everything for the win, with the lively Ramsey winning another Cardiff corner after his shot was deflected with just 10 minutes to go, but it came to no avail.

In the closing stages it was Palace who looked the more likely to knick it, as Cardiff looked nervous at the back. Freedman and Scannell both had shots blocked but a goal was not to come, and City took a much deserved point back to South Wales.

Full-time: Crystal Palace 0 v 0 Cardiff City

Cardiff City: Enckelmen, McNaughton, Johnson, Loovens, Capaldi, Sinclair (Ramsey 70), Scimeca (Rae 63), McPhail, Whittingham, Parry, Thompson. Subs not used: Oakes, Purse, Hasselbaink.

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Butterfield, Lawrence, Hudson, Hill, Ifill (Scowcroft), Watson, Fletcher (Scannell), Derry, Moses (Freedman 62), Morrison. Subs not used: Hills, Soares.

Goals: None

Referee: S. Mathieson

Attendance: 13,446