Title challengers Aston Villa missed a chance to close the gap on Arsenal to three points as Crystal Palace’s injury-hit side earned a goalless draw at Selhurst Park.
Palace have not won a league match in front of their home supporters since beating Brentford on 1 November, and their overall winless run extended to six Premier League games with this result.
But after a dull start to the game, they looked the side more likely to find a winner.
Brennan Johnson spurned chances either side of the break on his home debut, while Yeremy Pino forced Villa goalkeeper Marco Bizot – brought on for the injured Emiliano Martinez at half-time – into a smart stop.
Villa were looking for a 10th win in 11 league games, but Unai Emery’s side failed in their bid to reach the 45-point mark after 21 matches for the first time in the club’s history.
In-form Ollie Watkins made several smart runs in behind the Palace defence in the first-half but was first denied by a smothering Dean Henderson save before Maxence Lacroix produced a goal-saving block.
Palace appeared to be conserving energy in the first half but were much more adventurous in the final 30 minutes.
Jean-Philippe Mateta went agonisingly close to meeting Johnson’s low cross on the slide, but the Frenchman could not finish a quiet evening with a goal.
Villa pushed in the final moments when Watkins hit the woodwork from close range and Morgan Rogers fired over on the turn.
Crystal Palace analysis: Spirited Eagles defy injury crisis
In several recent interviews and media conferences, Glasner has mentioned that his side are fighting for their lives, and you can see his point.
With the number of players sidelined by injury and Johnson the only new arrival so far, his stretched squad simply struggle to muster the energy to go toe-to-toe with opponents.
Palace’s first-half intentions were clear – stay in the match while conserving energy for a second-half assault.
To their credit, the approach almost worked. Johnson was a constant threat, and on another night the nice interplay between the new signing, Pino and Mateta might have produced a goal.
“It was our 33rd game of the season, and we could only make one substitution because we needed JP [Mateta] to defend set-plays,” Glasner told Sky Sports.
“When I see what the players are doing, it is incredible, huge credit to them.”
Marc Guehi produced another solid defensive performance, with no sense of him being distracted by transfer interest from Manchester City, but Glasner could offer no guarantee on his captain’s future.
“I think Marc will stay, but if he says ‘I want to leave’ and a club pays massive money with five months left of his contract, then any player would leave if you are a club like Palace,” Glasner said.
“We are not at the end of the food chain in football.”
On this occasion, Palace were not able to continue their strong form against Villa – they had won nine of their previous 13 Premier League home games against them.
Aston Villa analysis: Villa miss chances to put pressure on Arsenal
Before the match, Villa boss Emery spoke of the difficulty of facing Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, but he will have been disappointed not to close the gap on league leaders Arsenal.
Watkins would have backed himself to score against a tired and threadbare Palace defence, especially given he had scored four goals in his previous three outings.
But the England striker was frustrated by saves, blocks and the woodwork despite taking four shots.
Even after Palace enjoyed a spell of dominance, Villa could and perhaps should have won it, but their attackers lacked the kind of composure they have shown buckets of in front of goal this term.
Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Brighton on Wednesday meant a Villa win would have sent them second in the table, but a draw leaves the two closest title challengers to Arsenal level on 43 points and five points off the pace.
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
