Crystal Palace 0-0 Leeds United: Whites held in a vicious Selhurst Park clash - YEP 25/4/22
Leeds United were held to a goalless draw by Crystal Palace in a full-blooded Premier League clash at Selhurst Park.
By Flora Snelson
Referee Darren England took centre stage in Croydon as he
allowed a free-flowing game of football to rile up players and fans alike, with
the home support especially aggrieved by England's refusal to dismiss Dan James
for a heavy challenge on Joel Ward.
VAR took a closer look at a tackle by Diego Llorente on the
advancing Conor Gallagher but a spot-kick was not given as both sides failed to
finish chances from open play.
With the points shared at Selhurst Park, Leeds edge closer
to safety, opening up a five-point cushion on the drop zone ahead of a tough
run of fixtures against Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Jean-Philippe Mateta passed up a chance to give the home
side the lead inside five minutes. The Frenchman beat Liam Cooper to hook a
long, bouncing ball over Illan Meslier's head but Llorente cleared it before it
could cross the line.
With the Eagles on the front foot, Nathaniel Clyne's cross
found Wilfried Zaha inside the six yard box but his header was easily collected
by Meslier.
The hosts continued to fire long balls forward with ease -
Jordan Ayew ran in behind Stuart Dallas in the 15th minute but Mateta, waiting
in the middle, fired his effort wide.
United found their way into the game, with Jack Harrison and
Stuart Dallas seeing speculative efforts blocked while Cooper's header from a
corner, easily caught by Vicente Guaita, was among the visitors' best
first-half chances, but the sides went into the break goalless.
The game went on at a rip-roaring pace after the interval as
both sides failed to convert chances into an opener.
Zaha had a frustrating evening but hit a rapid close range
effort on target in the 68th minute which Meslier did well to hold.
Gallagher came close to scoring a spectacular goal with ten
minutes left to play, hitting a rising ball on the volley first-time but his
effort skimmed the top of Meslier's crossbar.
Meslier made an impressive double save in the 80th minute to
deny Zaha twice at his near post and was there again to prevent Gallagher
firing home from the edge of the box.
Both teams threw everything at claiming a winner but the
final whistle brought the game to a close at 0-0.
