Leon Best wasted Sheffield Wednesday's most promising opportunities against Crystal Palace, with the Hillsborough clash ending in a tepid goalless draw.

Best, 19, was brought on just before the interval for Deon Burton and missed a chance to make an instant impact when he raced through shortly after.

The youngster also missed from close range in the second half while Dougie Freedman went closest for Iain Dowie's Eagles.

The point does little to help either side's respective objectives - promotion for Palace and survival for the hosts - after a match not helped by the pitch cutting up and pernickety refereeing.

Despite Wednesday enjoying the clearer chances, it was the visitors who had the first opportunity.

Freedman should have opened the scoring after six minutes when strike partner Andrew Johnson raced through and slid a pass towards the six-yard area.

With only goalkeeper Chris Adamson to beat, Scottish forward Freedman scuffed his effort after the ball seemed to stop on the sticky turf.

Wednesday responded a minute later when Barry Corr headed wide from Chris Brunt's cross on the right flank.

Brunt, who was a menace to Palace defenders with his pace, almost scored directly from a corner in the 10th minute but Mikele Leigertwood cleared from under the crossbar - although referee Kevin Wright awarded a goal kick.

Wright, the fussy Cambridgeshire official, then maintained his bizarre start to the match by booking Palace captain Michael Hughes for taking a free-kick too quickly. Marco Reich flashed the retaken set-piece just wide of Adamson's post.

The strikers on each side struggled to impose themselves, and it was defender Drissa Diallo who had the next chance, flashing a volley across the face of the goal in the 26th minute after Lee Bullen's corner had avoided the clutter in the penalty box.

Another Bullen corner three minutes later found Richard Wood in the six-yard area but the defender seemed surprised and his effort chipped over.

Burton appeared to pick up an injury late in the half and was replaced by Best, who then went through after Corr's flick but failed to keep his composure and Gabor Kiraly saved.

Freedman raced through on the stroke of half-time but Adamson saved after the striker had shown pace to get behind the hosts' defence.

Best, on loan from Southampton, caused problems with his movement, and he had a shot deflected over after Leigertwood's misplaced throw. Wright erroneously awarded a goal kick.

Best had an even better chance, this time from close range, when Corr scuffed an effort towards goal, but Kiraly was gifted an easy save.

Johnson picked up an injury and was replaced by Clinton Morrison just after the hour mark, while Palace boss also showed his attacking intentions by taking off Reich for Jon Macken.

However, it was Best who continued to threaten, racing through after 64 minutes and getting hauled down by Darren Ward, earning the defender a booking.

Crowd favourite Steve MacLean was then brought on for his first appearance of the season, with Owls boss Paul Sturrock also continuing to attack. Marcus Tudgay was then brought on for Graham Coughlin.

Morrison had an effort disallowed for offside with 10 minutes remaining - with the match ending tamely as both sides settled for 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: 24,784

Ref: K Wright (Cambridgeshire).