Crystal Palace 0-0 Leeds: Jesse Marsch's side five points clear of relegation zone after draw

Leeds United moved five points clear of the Premier League relegation zone following a fiercely contested goalless draw at Crystal Palace.

In a scrappy, sometimes bad-tempered clash Wilfried Zaha came closest to scoring but saw his powerful shot well held by Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

England midfielder Conor Gallagher also fired a half-volley narrowly over the crossbar from the edge of the area as Leeds secured their second successive clean sheet.

The visitors offered little as an attacking threat with a Liam Cooper header straight at home goalkeeper Vicente Guaita and a shot from substitute Joe Gelhardt their only efforts on target.

In the last 10 minutes Zaha twice had attempts blocked by the legs of Meslier as Leeds held on for what could prove to be a valuable point.

The result leaves Leeds - who play Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea in their next three games before ending the season with matches against Brighton and Brentford - in 16th place on 34 points, although 18th-placed Everton, on 29 points, have a game in hand.

Hard-to-beat Leeds get the point their fight deserves

Only bottom-of-the-table Norwich City (69) have conceded more Premier League goals this season than Leeds' 68 but in the six games since Jesse Marsch replaced the sacked Marcelo Bielsa in February, the American has turned Leeds into a team that is hard to beat.

Aided by superb defending, with Cooper and Diego Llorente repeatedly making crucial blocks, tackles or interceptions, Leeds will feel they got the point their hard work merited, and, with a tough run of fixtures coming up, will be happy with the result.

For Palace, who lost in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley earlier this month, the draw takes them on to 38 points and surely secures what will be a 10th successive season in the top flight.

The match at a packed and passionate Selhurst Park was played at a frenetic pace throughout, but with both sides repeatedly lacking quality in the final areas.

The hosts had an early chance when Leeds failed to deal with a ball forward and Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta got to it before the advancing Meslier but did not get enough power on the shot and Llorente was able to clear.

Mateta also headed at Meslier and another opportunity saw him unable to get a clean connection on Jordan Ayew's superb cross from the right wing.

For Leeds, who handed a first start in 2022 to England midfielder Kalvin Phillips after a hamstring injury, Cooper's tame header at the back post from Jack Harrison's corner was their only attempt on target in the opening 45 minutes.

Things threatened to boil over in the last few minutes of the first half, with Leeds players incensed when the often-fouled Zaha pushed his hand into the face of Raphinha, but avoided a booking, before Palace defender Joachim Andersen was shown a yellow card when sliding in late on Rodrigo.

The bad-tempered nature of the match continued early in the second half with Leeds' Daniel James catching Joel Ward, with the defender reacting angrily and both players getting cautioned.

Palace ended the game strongly with Leeds forced to defend deep as they battled to secure the point.

But Leeds got the draw they deserved and have now picked up 10 points from the six games under Marsch.

Player of the match

MeslierIllan Meslier

Crystal Palace

Squad number23Player nameGallagher

Squad number7Player nameOlise

Squad number11Player nameZaha

Squad number18Player nameMcArthur

Squad number6Player nameGuéhi

Squad number13Player nameGuaita

Squad number10Player nameEze

Squad number2Player nameWard

Squad number16Player nameAndersen

Squad number17Player nameClyne

Squad number14Player nameMateta

Squad number20Player nameBenteke

Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew

Squad number15Player nameSchlupp

Leeds United

Squad number1Player nameMeslier

Squad number2Player nameAyling

Squad number6Player nameCooper

Squad number14Player nameLlorente

Squad number15Player nameDallas

Squad number23Player namePhillips

Squad number10Player nameRaphinha

Squad number22Player nameHarrison

Squad number19Player nameRodrigo

Squad number5Player nameKoch

Squad number30Player nameGelhardt

Squad number20Player nameJames

Squad number43Player nameKlich

Squad number42Player nameGreenwood

Line-ups

Crystal Palace

Formation 4-3-3

13Guaita

17Clyne16Andersen6Guéhi2Ward

23Gallagher18McArthur10Eze

9J Ayew14Mateta11Zaha

Substitutes

Leeds

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Meslier

2Ayling14Llorente6Cooper15Dallas

43Klich23Phillips

10Raphinha19Rodrigo22Harrison

20James

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Crystal Palace 0, Leeds United 0.

Second Half ends, Crystal Palace 0, Leeds United 0.

Attempt saved. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Michael Olise with a cross.

Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Luke Ayling.

Attempt blocked. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jeffrey Schlupp.

James McArthur (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Sam Greenwood (Leeds United).

Foul by Joel Ward (Crystal Palace).

Raphinha (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

James McArthur (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by Luke Ayling (Leeds United).

Attempt saved. Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Michael Olise.

Offside, Crystal Palace. Christian Benteke tries a through ball, but Wilfried Zaha is caught offside.

Substitution, Crystal Palace. Christian Benteke replaces Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Foul by Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace).

Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Illan Meslier.

Attempt saved. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

Attempt saved. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jeffrey Schlupp.

Attempt saved. Joe Gelhardt (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Luke Ayling.

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