Iain Dowie was able to recall Mikele Leigertwood to the defence following his midweek suspension whilst skipper Graham Coughlan was named in the Owls starting line up after being back in training for only forty eight hours following an ankle injury. Paul Sturrock had to change the man between the sticks though as Chris Adamson came in for long term injury victim David Lucas.
Palace had the first opportunity of the afternoon when Andrew Johnson's pace got the better of his man and he found Dougie Freedman in the box after just six minutes but Richard Wood got back to deny the Scot with a last ditch tackle.
The home side, fighting for their lives at the wrong end of the table, soon got into game and Chris Brunt showed his danger.He delivered the perfect cross from the right but Barry Carr saw his header go wide of the target.
It was Brunt involved again but this time with a header as he was on the end of an inswinging corner but his close range effort was stopped on the line. Leigertwood appeared to clear the danger over the bar but the referee gave a goal kick much to the surprise of home side's fans and players.
The first caution of the afternoon went to Michael Hughes when the match official adjudged that he had been to hasty in taking the free kick but the retaken effort nearly broke the deadlock.Marco Reich struck an excellent free kick from 25 yards out but it went just inches wide of Chris Adamson's goal.
Just on the half hour Richard Wood was guilty of missing Wednesday's best chance of the game so far when Lee Bullen's second corner within as many minutes came to him but he missed from yards out as the ball appeared to hit his knee.
Sturrock was forced into his first change of the afternoon when Leon Best was introduced for the injured Deon Burton and nearly made an immediate impact on the game. He beat the Palace offside trap and looked set to open his account but was denied by a fine save in a one on one with Gabor Kiraly after picking up a ball from Barry Corr.
The half ended at a good pace and Freedman had a great chance at the other end but this time it was Owls keeper Adamson who made an excellent save. He picked up a flick from Chris Folly and as he headed towards goal looked set to score but was unable to send his team in ahead at the break.
The start of the second half saw Tom Soares introduced into the Palace side as replacement for Aki Riihilahti at the centre of midfield.
The home fans once again showed their feelings for the referee when Best was clear through after a Jobi McAnuff throw failed to get through to Kiraly and his effort appeared to be deflected over the bar but only a goal kick was given as Sturrock's side started the half on top.
Another chance was soon coming as Kiraly was forced to save low down from Best once again even though he looked well offside.
Palace suffered a blow on 61 minutes when Dowie had to make a double change. He lost Johnson following a heavy tackle by Drissa Diallo and he was replaced by Clinton Morrison whilst Reich had also had to leave proceedings as Jon Macken came into the action.
Morrison thought he had given his side the lead on 79 minutes when he converted from close range but the effort was ruled out for offside as he picked up a McAnuff shot which found its way to him.
As the game entered the final five minutes it could still go either way. Marcus Tudgay was on the edge of the box alone but shot wide with probably more time on his side than he realised and Best missed another chance although he would have been pleased to see the offside flag as the shot went wide of the mark.
Even three minutes of added time could not break the deadlock as the Wednesday would probably feel they should have taken maximum points following a second half whichthe travelling support had little to cheer but return to London with a point.
Sheff Wed Adamson, Coughlan (Tudgay 77), Wood, Diallo,Gilbert, Bullen, Folly, O'Brien, Brunt, Burton (Best 40),Corr (MacLean 70).
Subs Not Used: Partridge, Kirby.
Crystal Palace Kiraly, Ward, Hudson, Leigertwood, Boyce,McAnuff, Riihilahti (Soares 45), Hughes, Reich (Macken 64),Johnson (Morrison 61), Freedman.
Subs Not Used: Speroni, Watson.
Booked: Hughes, Ward.
Att: 24,78 Ref: K Wright (Cambridgeshire).
