Crystal Palace 0-0 Millwall: Sunday Mirror match report

Crystal Palace’s ­goalless and winless streak now stretches to five matches after a ­stalemate with Millwall at Selhurst Park.

It was an ­entertaining South London derby full of attacking football from both sides but marred by too many misplaced passes and overhit crosses.

Palace have now not found the net in 485 minutes but manager Dougie Freedman remains confident.

“We deserved to win,” he said. “Our performance merited a win but that is the way it goes.

“As long as we keep ­performing there are no problems. We are in a small rut in terms of ­goalscoring but we will come out of it.”

Palace had the best of the chances and Steve Mildenhall made two splendid diving saves to deny Wilfried Zaha and Glen Murray as half-time approached.

Murray also set up Mile Jedinak but the big ­midfielder pulled his shot wide. At the other end Scott Barron shook off his marker to meet a probing cross from John Marquis but headed straight at Julian Speroni. The game was crying out for a goal when Shane Lowry, making his debut for the Lions, hauled down Zaha in the box.

But the referee waved away the penalty appeals only to award a softer one moments later when Paul Robinson grabbed Paddy McCarthy’s shirt.

Murray blasted the spot-kick well wide and was substituted soon ­afterwards.

Lions manager Kenny Jackett said: “It was a ­performance I felt we needed after the last two games.

“We needed to ­improve. We were more competitive, we had more of the ball. Coming here is never easy so a clean sheet is a big thing.”