Palace left Humberside with their first clean sheet of the season which will leave the management team in good spirits knowing that it is only the second league match at Glandford Park this season in which The Irons have failed to score.

Neil Warnock took his side to one of his former clubs looking for a change in fortune following two home defeats but was dealt a blow in the warm up.  After originally naming Lee Hills in the eleven he had to make a change with the youngster suffering a back injury so Tony Craig was back in at left back whilst other changes saw Mark Kennedy and Besian Idrizaj back in the starting line up. 

Promoted United have started their Championship season well and went into this fixture in 9th place and with only two home defeats to their name. 

The home side started preceedings well winning a number of corners in the opening period but the defence held firm under early pressure with Julian Speroni really only being troubled by a Matt Sparrow shot from distance which was held well.

Palace's first chance of the match came courtesy of an excellent pass from Ben Watson which split the defence and found Kennedy down the left and Franck Songo'o slid in as the ball came across the face of goal but the effort was deflected out for a corner.  

Chances were few and far between for either side but the next one fell to Kevan Hurst when he let fly with a fierce volley from 20 yards which was saved low down by Speroni,  

Just a minute before the break the best chance of the match to date fell to Hudson who connected with Songo'o's cross but his shot was saved by Joe Murphy in the Irons goal.

Two late chances in the fell came the home sides way as Cleveland Taylor headed a Hurst cross wide and Speroni once again had to save, this time from Paul Hayes.

A minute of stoppage time was played before the half time whistle meant that the two teams went into the interval without being able to break the deadlock.

The 6000 crowd hoped for a better second half and it got off to a bright start for the home contingent as Jim Goodwin shot just inches wide after a fine run and cross from Martin Paterson.

Changes were  made from the bench as Clinton Morrison replaced Idrizaj and 15 year old John Bostock made his first away appearance as he came on for Sonko'o.

The home side were enjoying a good spell of pressure but the Palace team defended well against a side who passed the ball well and have pace going forward. 

Palace made their final change as Dougie Freedman came on to replace Carl Fletcher as the boss showed his intentions to go for maximum points from the bench in a game which continued to be short on goal mouth chances.  

On 72 minutes Morrison nearly had that 100th goal but his header went wide from Kennedy's cross as the visitors pushed for the victory,  James Scowcroft nearly made the breakthrough as the loose ball fell  to him and his shot from just outside the box went just inches wide.  

The visitors finished the stronger side and the Irons defence are grateful to clear a late Kennedy corner but four minutes of added time couldn't change the scoreline.

Palace take a point from a ground which many will not see as an easy place to come and went away knowing that they were able to put their training ground defensive work into a solid display over 90 minutes.  

Teams:

Scunthorpe Murphy, Cork, Crosby, Butler, Youga, Taylor (Williams 82), Goodwin, Sparrow, Hurst, Hayes (Forte 78), Paterson.

Subs Not Used: Lillis, Baraclough, Morris.

Booked: Goodwin, Butler.

Crystal Palace Speroni, Lawrence, Fonte, Hudson, Craig, Kennedy, Fletcher (Freedman 69), Watson, Songo'o (Bostock 64), Scowcroft, Idrizaj (Morrison 54).

Subs Not Used: Flinders, Hills.

Booked: Kennedy, Fonte, Songo'o.

Att: 6,778   Ref: Clive Penton (Sussex).