James Scowcroft v Cardiff. Photo: Neil Everitt

Palace fought hard for a goalless draw at Ninian Park to remain unbeaten over the Christmas period.

Peter Taylor made three changes to the side that drew 1-1 at Southampton with Ben Watson, Matt Lawrence and James Scowcroft coming in for Tom Soares, Danny Granville and Shefki Kuqi. There was also a return on the substitutes bench for Leon Cort after five weeks out with a hamstring injury.

In an uneventful start the the game Palace lined up with Watson in an unfamiliar right wing role while Lawrence took up the left-back berth although there was a brief scare for the Eagles in the sixth minute when Michael Chopra's lob hit the crossbar but the Assistant Referee had already signaled for offside.

Palace were looking comfortable on the ball in the opening period in blustery and wet conditions but it was Cardiff who were creating the early chances. Firstly in the 15^th minute Willo Flood headed straight at Scott Flinders from Steven Thompson's cross then seconds later the Palace keeper flung himself to his left to deny Ricardo Scimeca after a neat header.

The home side were dominating possession but Palace's defence were holding firm, especially with Joe Ledley's crosses flying into the box from the right-hand side. As half-time approached Flinders did well to tip over a wicked Flood corner whilst Mark Hudson and Darren Ward continued to command the Palace penalty area.

Cardiff continued to dominate at the start of the second period and Flinders once again displayed good handling on his goal-line, catching crosses from both flanks.

Palace were struggling to get any possession in the Cardiff half but the home side could not find a way past Hudson and Ward. Two long range shots from Scimeca in a two minute period gave Palace a brief scare and in the 60^th minute Flood missed a great chance for the home side. The Irish winger received a pass from Chopra on the left but from only 10 yards out he somehow shot wide.

Flood's chance was a massive warning for Palace and the Cardiff assault on Flinders' goal continued unabated as the winger fired a shot well over a few minutes later.

Just after the hour mark Palace had their best spell of the match. First Jobi McAnuff headed just over at the far post from a Watson cross then, much to the Palace dugout's disgust, Morrison had a goal disallowed for offside.

The second-half was a far more entertaining affair than the first and after 70 minutes the home side again went close twice. First Flood forced Flinders into another save and once again Scimeca went close from distance.

In the 75^th minute Palace made their first change bringing on Marco Reich for Watson and the German immediately went onto the left wing with McAnuff switching to the right hand side.

With full-time approaching Taylor replaced Morrison with Shefki Kuqi and in the final few minutes it was Palace who looked the stronger and fitter side, laying siege to the Bluebirds' goal during injury time.

CARDIFF: Alexander; Gilbert, Purse (c), Loovens, McNaughton (Cooper 77); Flood (Blake 90), McPhail, Scimeca, Ledley; Thompson (Campbell 89), Chopra.
Subs not used: Johnson, Wright.
Booked: McNaughton, Thompson, Gilbert.

PALACE: Flinders; Butterfield, Ward, Hudson, Lawrence; Watson (Reich 75), Fletcher (c), Kennedy, McAnuff; Morrison (Kuqi 86), Scowcroft.
Subs not used: Wilkinson, Freedman, Cort.
Booked: Morrison.