Crystal Palace let slip a great chance to step up their play-off challenge when they failed to break down relegation-threatened Sheffield Wednesday in a goalless draw at Selhurst Park.

Palace dominated the game without ever looking at their best, and though they created enough chances, they paid the penalty for poor finishing as two more points fell by the wayside.

The result stretched Wednesday's winless streak to five games, but there is no doubt Chris Turner will have been the happier manager as his side scrambled off the foot of the table.

Palace withstood an early flurry from the Owls to take charge of the first half, but they never looked convincing and could not threaten Paul Evans' goal as a succession of shots and headers cleared the bar.

And the story was the same in the second period, with Wednesday looking comfortable, although they were thankful that Tommy Black's shot in the dying seconds struck the woodwork.

It was nine minutes before the home side caught sight of goal, leading scorer Andrew Johnson drilling a 25-yard shot over the bar, and when Darren Powell got on the end of a Black corner, his header also went over the top.

The lively Johnson again cleared the bar when he fired in a right-footed volley from a corner, and then Evans was well up to the task to save a 20-yard effort from Ade Akinbiyi, who was recalled to the Palace side after knee surgery, having scored for the reserves in midweek.

Wednesday ended the half with a chance of their own, but Cedric Berthelin saved Ashley Westwood's header.

Turner will have been happy with his team's defensive display, with Dean Smith - signed from Leyton Orient on Friday - thrust straight into the side.

With chances few and far between, Palace boss Trevor Francis threw on Dele Adebola to pep up his attack, but it made precious little difference. Although Akinbiyi brought a save from Evans with a header as the minutes ticked down, Wednesday held on for the draw.

Teams

Crystal Palace Berthelin, Granville, Powell, Mullins, Butterfield, Thomson (Routledge 33), Riihilahti, Gray (Borrowdale 88), Johnson, Akinbiyi, Black, Routledge (Adebola 68).

Subs Not Used: Kolinko, Antwi.

Sheff Wed Evans, Smith, Maddix, Monk, Westwood, McLaren, Quinn, Johnston, Barry-Murphy, Reddy (Crane 90), Owusu (Kuqi 81).

Subs Not Used: Haslam, Stringer, Green.

Booked: McLaren, Quinn.

Att: 16,707

Ref: G Cain (Merseyside).