Bournemouth’s aspirations for a top-seven Premier League finish took a knock as they were held to a goalless stalemate by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
The result extended the Cherries’ winless streak in London to 11 league matches (D6, L5).
The opening half offered little in terms of excitement, with the most notable moments arriving after the half-hour mark.
A promising early delivery from Milos Kerkez to Justin Kluivert came to nothing, setting the tone for a half that lacked attacking precision.
Will Hughes had a chance for Palace following a rebound, but his strike from the edge of the area failed to trouble the goalkeeper.
Moments later, Evanilson had a similar opportunity for Bournemouth, sending his effort over the bar after being teed up by Kerkez.
Before Hughes’ attempt, Chris Richards received a yellow card for a rash challenge. That booking proved costly, as he picked up a second, somewhat harshly, just before the break for pulling down Kluivert in a physical battle for the ball.
Still, Palace may have welcomed the half-time whistle with some relief, especially after conceding 10 goals in their previous two outings.
The second half began with a flurry of yellow cards. Kluivert was first into the referee’s book, followed quickly by Ismaïla Sarr and Dango Outtara. The cautions reflected a match that remained tense but lacked fluidity.
Bournemouth had a rare spark in the 54th minute when Adam Smith’s effort was blocked after a sharp move, briefly exciting the away fans.
Palace began seeing more of the ball past the hour mark, though Bournemouth still looked slightly more threatening.
Evanilson came close with a header that was comfortably saved by Dean Henderson.
Just minutes later, the Palace goalkeeper was called into more serious action, making a superb stop to deny Outtara’s thunderous shot destined for the top corner.
In the end, a draw was likely the right outcome, even if Palace may feel slightly aggrieved not to have achieved a fourth consecutive home league win, something they’ve only done once before.
Bournemouth, on the other hand, will need to find another gear if they are to secure European football for the first time in the club’s history, though they can take some pride in remaining unbeaten in four straight meetings with Palace, all while keeping clean sheets.
