Crystal Palace pocketed a hard-fought point against Bournemouth in a goalless draw at the Vitality Stadium.

The Eagles showed sprinkles of promise on the attack but struggled to turn their encouraging glimpses into a sustained spell.

Eberechi Eze could have seen red after seven minutes for a lazy stamp on Ryan Christie’s heel, the referee only brandished a yellow.

Jean-Philippe Mateta was granted the first opening of the affair when Will Hughes moulded an incisive pass to his feet. However, the Frenchman could only flash his shot wide.

Palace produced a wonderful move of quality in the 20th minute. Mateta and Eze linked up on the left-hand side before the Englishman found Daniel Munoz inside the penalty area, who failed to fire his attempt past Kepa Arrizabalaga. The wing-back, who had more time than he realised, should have done better.

Though Palace had crafted the better chances in the early stages, the bulk of the openings fell to hosts. Bournemouth went close from a couple of corners, with the nearest effort stopped from crossing the line by Ismaila Sarr’s knee, while Dango Ouattara’s driven strike flew wide of the far post.

Trevoh Chalobah showed hesitancy in the 25th minute, being dispossessed inside the Bournemouth half. The Cherries broke and looked destined to take the lead until Ouattara’s indecisiveness enabled Marc Guehi to marshall the Bournemouth threat.

Ismaila Sarr had the ball in the back of the net after 27 minutes, getting on the end of Jefferson Lerma’s teasing through ball, but the pacey Senegalese international had drifted offside, bringing an abrupt end to the celebrations.

Both sides had chances at the start of the second half, with Dean Henderson and Kepa denying Antoine Semenyo and Eze, respectively.

Palace were dealt a pair of blows before the hour. Will Hughes picked up an injury and was withdrawn for Cheick Doucoure prior to Marc Guehi's fifth yellow card of the campaign – the centre-back will miss Sunday’s home match against Southampton.

The Eagles have fallen to one defeat in their last seven Premier League games, pioneered by Sarr's ascendency in form. He has shown class in recent weeks, with his end-product and pace proving a useful outlet. His rapidity was on show again in the 75th minute as he pummelled forward to the Bournemouth penalty area. The attack was encouraging, Sarr should have shot but tried to slot the blocked-off Munoz through, a tad more composure could have given Palace a winner.

When Oliver Glasner turned to his subs bench for reinforcements, he was greeted with the same infuriating conundrum that has possessed him for the entirety of the season: 'Where is the game changer?'

Palace needed a spark to come on and craft a bit of magic – they could only call upon Daichi Kamada, Justin Devenny and Cheick Doucoure.

Once again, Palace’s lack of attacking depth left them unable to kick on in a game; the Selhurst Park hierarchy must make amends in January.

Positively for Glasner, Doucoure showed his best cameo since coming back from his prolonged spell on the sidelines. On Boxing Day, his passing was much more precise, his defensive contributions were more controlled and his general performance had a noticeable sharpness.

Taking a point away from home against opposition in the top six should be perceived as a good result for Palace. However, one continues to wonder what Glasner’s side would be capable of with a tad of attacking flair in a season where Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth have catapulted into the upper echelons of the Premier League.