From Selhurst Park – Leeds moved another point closer to Premier League survival on Monday night, grinding out a 0-0 away at Crystal Palace.

The draw moves Jesse Marsch’s charges five points clear of the relegation zone, though 17th-placed Everton boast a game in hand over the Whites. Palace were the better side on the night but were not decisive enough in the final third, extending their winless run to four games in all competitions.

The hosts went direct to good effect in the opening stages and one of these long balls – provided by Nathaniel Clyne – was nearly converted by Jean-Philippe Mateta inside five minutes. However, after racing through the Palace centre-forward did not get enough on his finish.

Soon after, Mateta was presented with an even better chance. Again, a direct pass from Conor Gallagher behind the Leeds‘ defence created the opportunity, allowing Jordan Ayew to lay one on a plate for his teammate to divert wide.

It took until just before the half-hour mark for Leeds to trouble Vicente Guaita, with Liam Cooper tamely heading into the goalkeeper’s arms from a corner.

Aside from that, the Whites offered very little before the break with Palace ending the first half in the ascendency but being denied by some stubborn defending. A controversial decision from referee Darren England then made sure that the two sets of players descended down the tunnel in a prickly mood.

This set up a niggly start to the second half with Daniel James and Joel Ward both finding their way into the referee’s notebook within five minutes of the restart.

Palace manufactured a couple of promising openings but the final ball was lacking. It would be Leeds who drew the first ‚oooohhhh‘ from the crowd in the second half, with Stuart Dallas marauding forward and rolling a shot wide of the post.

Just after the hour mark Mateta was presented with his third good chance of the game. Peeling to the front post he met Zaha’s low cross with a powerful effort which ended up sailing over the bar.

This sparked Palace back into life with Leeds being hit with a string of menacing attacks as the half wore on. Urged to shoot by the crowd, makeshift left-back Ward almost become an unlikely hero, with his bending effort forcing Meslier to scramble across his goal, only for it to bobble past the post.

A few minutes later Gallagher went even closer, striking the ball sumptuously from waist height narrowly over the bar. Zaha and Gallagher would go to spurn further chances and the former saw a stoppage-time shot loop agonisingly out for a goal kick following a deflection, as Patrick Vieira’s side slipped to a frustrating draw.

Here are your player ratings for both teams…

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Vicente Guaita (GK) – 5/10 – His distribution wasn’t great but did everything else expected of him without too many issues.

Nathaniel Clyne (RB) – 7/10 – Another good display. He balanced his offensive and defensive duties diligently and should be Palace’s starting right-back.

Joachim Andersen (CB) – 6/10 – Fuelled by the braying Selhurst Park crowd, who were not pleased with referee Darren England’s performance, he picked up a silly booking on the stroke of half time. Composed other than that.

Marc Guehi (CB) – 7/10 – Sprayed a few lovely balls out wide from the heart of the defence. The way he strikes them is so satisfying to watch.

Joel Ward (LB) – 6/10 – Solid as ever and surprisingly potent going forward at times. Booked for afters with James.

James McArthur (CM) – 7/10 – Has had to be patient at times this season but performed excellently here. Wore the captain’s armband too.

Conor Gallagher (CM) – 6/10 – Played one exquisite ball in behind in the first half that should have easily resulted in a goal. Made late runs into the box as usual but was not found.

Jordan Ayew (RW) – 5/10 – Should have registered an assist in the first half but Mateta could not finish. Pretty quiet after that but did register a few good carries.

Eberechi Eze (AM) – 3/10 – Leeds kicked him out of the game in the first half. His delivery was poor. Just not his night to be honest.

Wilfried Zaha (LW) – 7/10 – The Whites could not live with him, resorting to fouls to dim his influence. That did not always work, though. All that was missing was a goal or assist.

Jean-Philippe Mateta (ST) – 5/10 – His movement and physicality was excellent. The same could not be said of his finishing, though.

SUB: Michael Olise (RW) – 6/10 – Carved out a chance seconds after coming on. Probably should have started.

SUB: Jeffrey Schlupp (CM) – N/A

SUB: Christian Benteke (ST) – N/A

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Illan Meslier (GK) – 6/10 – Despite Palace’s dominance, their wayward finishing ensured he had a fairly relaxing evening.

Luke Ayling (RB) – 6/10 – Defended well against Zaha early on, getting physical when he needed to and also added width in possession. As things progressed he tired, and the Ivorian often got the better of him.

Diego Llorente (CB) – 6/10 – Dived in recklessly on Gallagher in the second half but got away with it.

Liam Cooper (CB) – 7/10 – Did not make the most of a rare Leeds chance from a corner. Defended pretty well, even if Mateta slipped free more than once.

Stuart Dallas (LB) – 6/10 – Caught out by long balls into his channel several times in the opening exchanges. Recovered to deny Ayew an easy night.

Mateusz Klich (CM) – 5/10 – A pretty quiet first 45 minutes before he was dragged off at the break.

Kalvin Phillips (CM) – 5/10 – Some way off his best. Was slow to the ball on occasion and his passing was easy for Palace to live with.

Raphinha (RW) – 5/10 – Nutmegged Joel Ward in the first half. It was the 15th time he’d pulled out that party trick this season. Needed to do a bit more.

Rodrigo (AM) – 5/10 – A fairly nothing-y display. Kept disciplined without the ball.

Jack Harrison (LW) – 6/10 – Fired off a few shots. Leeds needed more of this directness at times.

Daniel James (ST) – 4/10 – Tried to provide an out ball for Leeds in the first half. Was booked for an extremely late challenge on Ward early in the second period.

SUB: Robin Koch (CM) – 6/10 – Performed a really rubbish dive in the second half. Solid.

SUB: Sam Greenwood (RW) – 5/10 – Could not get into the game with Leeds‘ defending for much of the second half.

SUB: Joe Gelhardt (ST) – N/A

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