Newcastle United hold Crystal Palace in drab goalless stalemate

Newcastle United earned only their second Premier League point of the season with a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace in which the home side missed several chances and hit the woodwork in a scrappy affair.

The result left Palace 11th, on seven points from six games, while the Magpies stayed 18th, ahead of bottom two Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town on goal difference after another lacklustre performance.

The home side dominated the opening half and twice came close through captain Luka Milivojevic, who tested Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka with a curling low shot before his floated free kick came off the post.

Newcastle striker Ayoze Perez directed an acrobatic overhead kick straight an Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey in the second half before Mamadou Sakho missed a sitter at the other end, heading wide from close in after an Andros Townsend cross.