Wolves faltered in their drive towards the First Division play-offs as they were held at Molineux by improving Crystal Palace in a dull deadlock.

Chances were few and far between in a game dominated by the defences, with neither goalkeeper being seriously troubled.

But the draw will please Palace much more as they extended their run without defeat to ten matches in the wake of Terry Venables' departure.

Wolves only occasionally looked like making it six wins out of eight as they produced a hesitant, nervous performance in front of a 23,000-plus crowd with the finishing line in sight.

Colin Lee's side started brightly and Kevin Muscat went close early on, the former Crystal Palace defender cutting inside his marker and bringing a good diving save from Kevin Miller with a powerful 20-yarder.

Dean Richards then headed powerfully over from a corner by Simon Osborn and, shortly before the interval, Carl Robinson appeared unmarked on the end of Muscat's deep cross and produced a close-range angled volley which was well blocked by the legs of Miller at the expense of a corner.

Palace did not manage a single shot or header anywhere near goal in the first half, but were more purposeful in the second period, albeit without bringing a save from Mike Stowell, who was equalling Bert Williams' club goalkeeper record of 420 Wolves appearances in League and Cup.

Striker Leon McKenzie twice climbed well to head off target from corners, but Wolves did most of the pressing in a late search for maximum points.

Lee sent on Steve Corica and Lee Naylor in a double 72nd minute substitution and Corica figured in the late move in which he helped on Steve Sedgley's through ball to Robinson to force Miller into a routine save at the second attempt.

Palace were content to mop up what attacking Wolves could manage and they clung comfortably to another clean sheet, having recently beaten both Bradford and Ipswich at Selhurst Park.

Teams

Wolverhampton: Stowell, Muscat, Gilkes (Naylor 72), Sedgley, Richards, Curle, Robinson, Emblen, Flo, Connolly (Corica 72),Osborn.

Subs Not Used: Atkins.

Crystal Palace: Miller, Jihai (Frampton 74), Petric, Austin, Woozley, Thomson, Foster, Zhiyi, McKenzie, Morrison, Mullins.

Subs Not Used: Burton, Svensson.

Att: 23,643.

Ref: T Heilbron (Newton Aycliffe).