Crystal Palace overcame the challenge of playing the whole of the second half with 10 men to hold AFC Bournemouth to a 0-0 draw, denting the Cherries' hopes of European qualification.
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Palace, who had conceded 10 goals across their previous two matches against Manchester City and Newcastle United, had to play more than half of this contest with a numerical disadvantage after Chris Richards was dismissed for a second bookable offence.
Nevertheless, Bournemouth were unable to capitalise while having the extra man, with the breakthrough ultimately eluding both sides.
Bournemouth stay eighth and are five points adrift of seventh-placed Aston Villa, while Palace remain five points behind Andoni Iraola’s side in 12th.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 |
Nott'm Forest
NFO
|
32 | +13 | 57 |
| 6 |
Aston Villa
AVL
|
33 | +6 | 57 |
| 7 |
Chelsea
CHE
|
32 | +17 | 54 |
| 8 |
Bournemouth
BOU
|
33 | +12 | 49 |
| 9 |
Fulham
FUL
|
32 | +4 | 48 |
How the match unfolded
There were few chances in the first half. Dango Ouattara called Dean Henderson into action from a tight angle and Evanilson sent a speculative overhead kick way over the crossbar, but that was as close as either side came to breaking the deadlock.
Palace were reduced to 10 men in first-half stoppage time, with Richards shown a second yellow card after he was deemed to have dragged Justin Kluivert back.
But neither team's fortunes in front of goal improved after the break. Jean-Philippe Mateta also attempted an acrobatic effort that was never going to trouble the goalkeeper.
At the other end, Ouattara tried his luck again from a tight angle, but Henderson comfortably gathered once more.
Bournemouth increased the pressure late on as they desperately tried to capitalise on their numerical advantage, but they did so without success and were forced to settle for a point.
Palace tighten up at the back
Palace came into this contest desperate to stop the rot.
Following a seven-match unbeaten streak in all competitions, the Eagles had come crashing down to earth with their heavy defeats to Manchester City and Newcastle United.
But Glasner’s side had won their last three Premier League home matches, with Mateta scoring 18 times in 22 league appearances at Selhurst Park, where Eberechi Eze had been directly involved in 19 goals in 30 league games.
However, neither player was able to inspire the hosts during a generally lacklustre display from both sides.
Nevertheless, Palace can take positives from the way they stood firm defensively following Richards’ red card to ensure a clean sheet.
That is what Glasner will be urging his players to focus on ahead of travelling to Arsenal in midweek, before attention turns to their FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Missed chance for Cherries?
Bournemouth, meanwhile, were fresh from stopping a rot of their own. Iraola’s side had gone six matches in all competitions without victory before edging out Fulham 1-0 on Monday.
With seventh-placed Villa playing high-flying Newcastle later on Saturday, the Cherries knew this was a decent opportunity to potentially close the gap to just three points heading into the last five games of the Premier League season.
Despite failing to win any of their last 10 league games in London, they arrived as the league’s second-highest scorers away from home this season, only behind leaders Liverpool.
With Evanilson scoring six times in nine league appearances away from the Vitality Stadium and Kluivert starting behind the Brazilian, Iraola will have been confident in their chances.
However, they were unable to find the breakthrough despite playing the entire second half with an extra man.
The run-in will certainly test Bournemouth’s credentials in their quest for European football. After hosting Manchester United next weekend, they take on Arsenal, Villa and Manchester City, before concluding the campaign at home to Leicester City.
Club reports
Crystal Palace report | Bournemouth report
Next PL fixtures
Key facts
Crystal Palace have been involved in three goalless draws in the Premier League this season, fewer than only Everton (five). Additionally, the Eagles have failed to score in their last two league games, as many blanks as in their previous 23.
Bournemouth have drawn three consecutive away matches for just the second time in the Premier League, after also doing so in March/April 2017 under Eddie Howe. Meanwhile, no side have drawn more away games than the Cherries in the top-flight this term (seven, alongside Arsenal).
Crystal Palace failed to have a shot on target in this match, with the Eagles failing to manage an effort on target for the first time in the Premier League since a 0-1 home loss to Manchester City in March 2023.
The last two Premier League meetings between Crystal Palace and Bournemouth have ended in goalless draws, with only four fixtures in the competition’s history finishing goalless more times in a row: Arsenal v QPR (1992-1994), Aston Villa v Manchester United (1996-1997), Coventry v Sheffield Wednesday (1996-1997) and Charlton v Middlesbrough (2001-2002).
