Crystal Palace were held to a goalless draw at home by Bolton on Dougie Freedman's return to Selhurst Park.

Freedman's Bolton were unable to recreate the form against his former club that saw them beat Sunderland in the FA Cup on Tuesday.

Wilfried Zaha has been making headlines for Palace and he came the closest to scoring, hitting the crossbar.

Kevin Davies should have done better for Bolton but he fired over from just five-yards out.

Palace manager Ian Holloway could well be planning for life without Zaha, as he has reportedly been the subject of a bid from Manchester United,   but, while he remains at the club, the youngster will no doubt continue to impress.

Fortress Selhurst Park

Palace have the longest unbeaten home run in the Championship with 13 matches, having won eight and drawn five since losing their Selhurst Park opener against Watford on 18 August.

For the visitors, Chris Eagles was in good form, twice forcing Julian Speroni into saves before Palace thought they should have had a penalty.

The ball appeared to hit the arm of Tyrone Mears but referee Robert Madley ignored the appeals.

The home side also thought they had opened the scoring at the end of the first half. Glenn Murray reacted quickest after Adam Bogdan saved Yannick Bolasie's shot but the linesman was flagging for offside.

Another jinking run and cross from Zaha should have produced the winner for Murray, but the Championship's top scorer, with 22 league goals, scooped his shot over the bar.

At the other end, Davies headed straight at Speroni before the Argentine saved well from Keith Andrews.

Freedman was in charge for 92 matches at Palace before taking over at Bolton in October, but has only now won five games out of 17 since then.

The result leaves the Eagles fourth, just two points off the automatic promotion places, while Bolton are now 12 points off the top six in 16th.

Crystal Palace boss Ian Holloway said:

"We start slowly, like my car did this morning but the longer the game went on the better we looked and I find it hard to believe we didn't win, but that's the way it's going at the moment.

"So the players are disappointed, we really want to stay in touch with the top teams and go up automatically, so we have to turn games like that into three points towards the end of the season."

Bolton manager Dougie Freedman said:

"We had a plan and stuck to it and played some terrific football. Towards the end Palace got their widemen in the game but I'm satisfied with the performance.

"I thought it was a fantastic reception, I had some wonderful times here and they will never be taken away from me."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Crystal Palace

  • 01 Speroni
  • 21 Moxey Booked
  • 27 Delaney
  • 28 Ramage (Marrow - 73' )
  • 04 Parr
  • 06 Butterfield (Williams - 75' )
  • 07 Bolasie
  • 15 Jedinak
  • 16 Zaha
  • 17 Murray
  • 23 Nimely (Moritz - 52' )

Substitutes

  • 34 Price
  • 12 Marrow
  • 20 Williams
  • 22 O'Keefe
  • 30 Moritz
  • 18 Wilbraham
  • 19 Easter

Bolton Wanderers

  • 01 Bogdan
  • 02 Mears
  • 03 Alonso
  • 05 Ream
  • 12 Knight
  • 07 Eagles Booked
  • 08 Andrews Booked (Vela - 76' )
  • 20 Spearing
  • 21 Pratley Booked (C Davies - 85' )
  • 27 Lee
  • 14 K Davies (Ngog - 85' )

Substitutes

  • 24 Lonergan
  • 18 Ricketts
  • 25 Vela
  • 09 Ngog
  • 17 Afobe
  • 19 Sordell
  • 28 C Davies
Ref: Robert Madley
Att: 17,033

Match Stats

Shots

8 9

On target

3 5

Corners

10 5

Fouls

9 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:40 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +3:00

The ball is crossed by Yannick Bolasie, Tim Ream makes a clearance.

90:00 +2:21

The official flags Glenn Murray offside. Indirect free kick taken by Adam Bogdan.

90:00 +1:24

Inswinging corner taken by Yannick Bolasie from the left by-line, Effort from 18 yards by Alex Marrow. Save made by Adam Bogdan.

90:00 +1:01

Yannick Bolasie decides to take the corner short.

89:27

Jay Spearing crosses the ball, Julian Speroni makes a save.

87:47

Craig Davies is adjudged to have handled the ball. Mile Jedinak takes the free kick.

87:18

Wilfried Zaha produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the target.

86:32

Effort from close in by Jonathan Williams goes wide left of the target.

84:09 Substitution

Substitution (Bolton) makes a substitution, with David Ngog coming on for Kevin Davies.

84:09 Substitution

Substitution (Bolton) makes a substitution, with Craig Davies coming on for Darren Pratley.

82:13

Glenn Murray concedes a free kick for a foul on Jay Spearing. Free kick taken by Adam Bogdan.

78:29

The assistant referee flags for offside against Wilfried Zaha. Adam Bogdan takes the free kick.

76:45

The ball is crossed by Chris Eagles, Damien Delaney manages to make a clearance.

75:55

Corner taken by Andre Moritz from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Jay Spearing.

74:19

Andre Moritz restarts play with the free kick.

74:19 Substitution

Substitution Joshua Vela joins the action as a substitute, replacing Keith Andrews.

74:19 Substitution

Substitution Jacob Butterfield leaves the field to be replaced by Jonathan Williams.

74:19

Free kick awarded for a foul by Chung-Yong Lee on Yannick Bolasie.

73:39

Keith Andrews takes a shot. Save by Julian Speroni.

72:46 Substitution

Substitution Alex Marrow replaces Peter Ramage.

71:36

Shot by Glenn Murray from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.

71:10

Kevin Davies takes a shot. Save by Julian Speroni.

70:58

The ball is sent over by Marcos Alonso.

69:55

The ball is crossed by Keith Andrews, save made by Julian Speroni.

68:42

Marcos Alonso takes a shot. Save by Julian Speroni. Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Marcos Alonso, clearance by Andre Moritz.

68:06

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Chris Eagles from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Dean Moxey.

65:20

Free kick awarded for a foul by Keith Andrews on Wilfried Zaha. Free kick crossed left-footed by Andre Moritz from right wing, clearance by Marcos Alonso.

64:46

The assistant referee signals for offside against Kevin Davies. Julian Speroni takes the indirect free kick.

64:14

Darren Pratley gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andre Moritz. Jacob Butterfield takes the direct free kick.

62:55

Andre Moritz produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

62:40

Wilfried Zaha takes a shot from a just insdie the penalty box and hits the post.

60:47

Wilfried Zaha challenges Marcos Alonso unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Tim Ream.

59:19

Corner taken by Jay Spearing.

58:40

Centre by Yannick Bolasie, Tim Ream manages to make a clearance.

57:05

Chris Eagles produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.

56:56

Chung-Yong Lee delivers the ball.

55:19

Centre by Dean Moxey, clearance by Zat Knight.

52:49 Booking

Booking Darren Pratley receives a yellow card.

52:36

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mile Jedinak by Darren Pratley. Free kick taken by Jonathan Parr.

51:35 Substitution

Substitution Andre Moritz on for Alex Nimely.

51:02

Inswinging corner taken by Jacob Butterfield from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance by Jay Spearing.

50:52

The ball is delivered by Jonathan Parr, clearance by Marcos Alonso.

49:54

Shot from outside the area by Chris Eagles misses to the left of the goal.

45:27

Free kick awarded for a foul by Alex Nimely on Chris Eagles. Adam Bogdan takes the direct free kick.

45:01

The referee starts the second half.

45:00 +2:01 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +1:40

Chris Eagles takes a shot. Julian Speroni makes a comfortable save.

45:00 +0:49

Inswinging corner taken by Jay Spearing from the left by-line played to the near post, Mile Jedinak manages to make a clearance.

44:43

A cross is delivered by Jacob Butterfield, Glenn Murray concedes a free kick for a foul on Marcos Alonso. Adam Bogdan restarts play with the free kick.

42:40

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Jacob Butterfield, clearance made by Kevin Davies.

42:33

A cross is delivered by Dean Moxey, blocked by Tyrone Mears.

40:56

Corner taken by Jay Spearing from the left by-line, save by Julian Speroni.

39:47

Yannick Bolasie takes a shot. Save by Adam Bogdan. The assistant referee signals for offside against Glenn Murray. Free kick taken by Adam Bogdan.

38:01

Free kick crossed by Jacob Butterfield, save by Adam Bogdan.

38:01 Booking

Booking The referee shows Keith Andrews a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

37:52

Free kick awarded for a foul by Keith Andrews on Wilfried Zaha.

37:14

Chris Eagles fouled by Mile Jedinak, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Adam Bogdan.

31:28

Free kick taken by Zat Knight.

31:28 Booking

Booking Dean Moxey receives a yellow card.

30:41

Chris Eagles fouled by Dean Moxey, the ref awards a free kick.

28:55

The ball is crossed by Tyrone Mears, Darren Pratley has a headed effort at goal from close range which goes wide left of the target.

28:39

Mile Jedinak challenges Kevin Davies unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Keith Andrews.

27:49

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Jacob Butterfield, clearance by Zat Knight.

27:21

Corner from the left by-line taken by Jacob Butterfield, Marcos Alonso makes a clearance.

24:18

Jacob Butterfield takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, Jay Spearing makes a clearance.

22:25

Chris Eagles gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Wilfried Zaha. Free kick taken by Julian Speroni.

22:09

Chris Eagles takes a shot. Save made by Julian Speroni.

20:26 Booking

Booking Chris Eagles is booked.

19:35

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Chung-Yong Lee by Jonathan Parr. Free kick crossed right-footed by Jay Spearing from left wing, clearance by Yannick Bolasie.

18:32

Centre by Chung-Yong Lee, clearance made by Peter Ramage.

16:26

Glenn Murray fouled by Tim Ream, the ref awards a free kick. Mile Jedinak produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

16:10

Jay Spearing is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Damien Delaney restarts play with the free kick.

14:30

A cross is delivered by Glenn Murray.

13:48

Yannick Bolasie produces a cross, blocked by Tim Ream. Inswinging corner taken by Jacob Butterfield from the right by-line, Jay Spearing manages to make a clearance.

11:41

Darren Pratley delivers the ball, Damien Delaney makes a clearance.

9:35

The ball is crossed by Damien Delaney, clearance made by Marcos Alonso.

8:33

Unfair challenge on Jacob Butterfield by Kevin Davies results in a free kick. Mile Jedinak takes the direct free kick.

5:41

Jacob Butterfield takes the inswinging corner, Tim Ream manages to make a clearance.

5:00

Unfair challenge on Wilfried Zaha by Keith Andrews results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Jacob Butterfield.

1:34

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Keith Andrews by Mile Jedinak. Tim Ream takes the direct free kick.

0:25

Chris Eagles produces a right-footed shot from outside the box and misses left.

0:00

The referee starts the match.

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