EPL: Brighton 0-0 Crystal Palace

Christian Benteke made his first start for Crystal Palace since the end of September

Brighton and Crystal Palace had to settle for a point apiece as a disappointing encounter ended goalless at the Amex Stadium.

The hosts brought both Markus Suttner and Jose Izquierdo into their starting line-up, while the Eagles were able to name Christian Benteke in their starting XI.

Brighton enjoyed a majority of the early possession, although Wilfried Zaha was posing a threat down the left flank.

Fourteen minutes in home keeper Mat Ryan rescued his side with a terrific double save, firstly from the recalled Benteke and then from a follow-up effort by Zaha, who should have done better.

At the other end a Lewis Dunk header from a corner was straight at the waiting Wayne Hennessey, who then had to push away a Dale Stephens shot from the left side of the area.

Eight minutes before half-time Pascal Gross forced another save from Hennessey with a low shot from 20 yards which lacked the power needed to find the net.

The rest of the first half saw both sides huff and puff without being able to carve out any further clear openings.

Early in the second half Ryan was right behind a Yohan Cabaye free-kick, before Dunk flicked a corner inches wide of the near post at the other end.

Shane Duffy landed a header onto the roof of the net 20 minutes from time and soon after Stephens flashed a 30-yarder a yard wide of the target.

Glenn Murray went close late on as his header was cleared off the Palace line by Andros Townsend, as both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils.