Southampton's disappointing form in the Coca-Cola Championship continued as they shared a goalless draw with an in-form Crystal Palace side at St Mary's.

The Eagles have collected 15 points from a possible 18 to propel themselves firmly into play-off contention.

Saints, in contrast, have been poor and have managed just a solitary victory in their last seven league outings.

Manager George Burley has presided over just two victories since taking charge of in December and brought in 18-year-old Polish goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski for Paul Smith, while Andrew Surman was handed his debut in place of the injured Nigel Quashie.

Palace boss Iain Dowie left Clinton Morrison on the bench as Jon Macken partnered Andy Johnson in attack.

The home side started brightly and created the first chance of the match in the fourth minute when Brett Ormerod turned to fire into the side-netting before an awkward cross from Fitz Hall was tipped behind.

Johnson and Macken both spurned chances for the visitors by shooting wide, while David Prutton was equally wasteful when he tried his luck from 20 yards.

Danny Higginbotham forced Gabor Kiraly into his first save of the game in the 32nd minute when he fired in a free-kick following a foul by Ben Watson on Prutton.

Southampton upped the tempo as the game ticked into the final minutes of the first half - and after first seeing his shot caught by Kiraly, Marian Pahars then forced the Hungarian to tip the ball behind with a powerful shot from the edge of the box.

Palace came close to breaking the deadlock a minute after the restart when Michael Hughes crossed for Johnson, and the former Birmingham striker let fly with a volley which flew over the bar.

Ormerod then got round Mark Hudson for Southampton to whip in a shot from 12 yards - but he managed only to blaze high and wide.

Watson was replaced by Wayne Andrews as Palace looked to nick a goal, and the forward almost had an immediate impact when he played a low shot across goal for Johnson - but the diminutive front man failed to even hit the target.

Saints also made a change as Burley brought on Nathan Dyer for Ormerod as the game entered the final 15 minutes.

But an expected final rush never materialised as chances for either side dried up, with Pahars' late shot the only remaining effort of note before the final whistle.

Southampton Bialkowski, Baird, Lundekvam, Kenton,Higginbotham, Pahars, Oakley, Prutton, Surman,Jones (Blackstock 61), Ormerod (Dyer 75).

Subs Not Used: Smith, Hajto, Fuller.

Booked: Prutton.

Crystal Palace Kiraly, Fitz Hall, Hudson, Ward, Boyce, Soares,Watson (Andrews 62), Hughes, McAnuff (Morrison 84), Johnson,Macken (Freedman 62).

Subs Not Used: Speroni, Leigertwood.

Booked: Macken.

Att: 24,651

Ref: A Marriner (W Midlands).