A goal-less draw against a Southampton side low on confidence was perhaps not what the doctor ordered, but it at least ensured Palace's unbeaten run remained intact.
The Eagles were unchanged for the trip to St Mary's, with Iain Dowie keeping faith with the same XI which drew with Reading last Friday.
In contrast the Saints - whose fans staged a pre-match protest calling for the removal of chairman Rupert Lowe - made six changes following Saturday's 2-0 home defeat to Ipswich.
The murmurings of discontent transmitted to the pitch, and a jittery start by the men in red and white saw Andy Johnson almost capitalise on an underhit backpass.
But the Saints soon recovered their composure, and nearly took the lead on five minutes when Brett Ormerod found time and space in the Palace box, only to find the side netting.
Ormerod's Palace counterpart Jon Macken was soon in the action himself, picking up a caution for an overzealous challenge.
Saints midfielder David Prutton then exacted a retribution all of his own, clattering into Macken's team-mate Jobi McAnuff to earn himself a booking and raise the temperature on a freezing night on the south coast.
Palace nearly gained revenge by taking the lead through the lively Johnson, who latched onto McAnuff's crossfield pass before lobbing Bartosz Bialkowski in the Saints goal.
Sadly for the vouble travelling support, however, the ball drifted agonisingly wide of its intended target.
Almost immediately Southampton launched an attack of their own, which culminated in striker Kenwyne Jones heading wide of Gabor Kiraly's upright.
As the end-to-end nature of the contest continued, a well-placed Macken sliced his lef-footed volley high over the bar. Prutton did likewise with a rising shot from the edge of the box on 25 minutes.
Another promising Southampton attack was thwarted when Ormerod collapsed in a heap on the ground, and some good-natured banter - focusing on George Burley's predecessor in the St Mary's hotseat - was exchanged between the two sets of fans whilst the stricken player received treatment.
Back on the pitch Danny Higginbotham - Palace's bete noire last season - curled a free-kick round the Palace wall but straight into the arms of the grateful Kiraly.
A set-piece from a similar position at the other end of the park saw Palace skipper Michael Hughes cannon his drive into the Saints wall.
Five minutes before the break Johnson picked out strike partner Macken with a precise cross from the right, but the former Preston man's flick was blocked en route to goal by Saints skipper Claus Lundevkam. The same fate befell Watson's follow-up.
Southampton soon counter-attacked, but Pahars' tame shot was easily dealt with by Kiraly.
The final acts of an entertaining first-half saw Johnson's shot block and Pahars' shot tipped over the bar.
Johnson was again involved at the start of the second period, but his normally reliable radar was again awry and his shot found only the stands. Ormerod was similarly off target with Saints' first effort of the second-half.
In the 58th minute Fitz Hall's long throw caused pandemonium in the Saints box and appeared to hit a Southampton arm, but referee Andre Marriner waved away Palace's penalty appeals.
Buoyed by the apparent reprieve Saints broke in numbers moments later, but Andrew Surman betrayed his inexperience with a wasteful shot when a pass looked to be the better option.
Just after the hour mark both managers signalled their dissatisfaction with proceedings by making changes, as Dexter Blackstock replaced Jones for the Saints whilst Wayne Andrews and Dougie Freedman were introduced by Iain Dowie in place of Watson and Macken respectively.
Andrews, operating wide on the right, made an immediate impact with a low cross which Johnson, who perhaps should have done better, prodded just wide.
The Andrews-Johnson combination again almost created the first goal moments later, but this time Bialkowski came to the rescue.
As the pressure on the home side continued Johnson turned provider for Soares, but the youngster - under pressure from a Saints defender - could not convert from close range and another chance went begging.
The Eagles were nearly punished for their profligacy when Ward appeared to handle in the box in the 73rd minute, but again the penalty appeals fell on deaf ears.
But Palace soon regained the initiative, and a marauding run down the right flank from Hall ended with a McAnuff cross-shot which Johnson just failed to turn in at the far post.
Moments later Palace registered their umpteemth shot on target with a dipping Freedman volley, but again Bialkowski was equal to the task.
Johnson finally broken Saints resolute defence ten minutes from time, but the strike was ruled out for offside. It summed up the diminutive striker's night.
With seven minutes to go Dowie threw on Clinton Morrison, but it was to no avail as the Eagles - despite late pressure - were unable to break the deadlock.
Line-ups:
Palace (4-4-2): Kiraly; Hall, Hudson, Ward, Boyce; Soares, Watson (Andrews 63), Hughes, McAnuff (Morrison 83); Johnson, Macken (Freedman 63).
Subs (not used): Speroni, Leigertwood.
Booked: Macken.
Southampton (4-4-2): Bialkowski; Baird, Lundekvam, Kenton, Higginbotham; Pahars, Oakley, Prutton, Surman; Jones (Blackstock 62), Ormerod (Dyer 75).
Subs (not used): Smith, Hajto, Fuller.
Booked: Prutton
Referee: A Marriner
Attendance: 24,651
