Leeds’ Daniel James and Crystal Palace’s Joel Ward were both booked following this altercation in the second half
Leeds United moved five points clear of the Premier League relegation zone following a fiercely contested goalless draw at Crystal Palace.
In a scrappy, sometimes bad-tempered clash Wilfried Zaha came closest to scoring but saw his powerful shot well held by Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
England midfielder Conor Gallagher also fired a half-volley narrowly over the crossbar from the edge of the area as Leeds secured their second successive clean sheet.
The visitors offered little as an attacking threat with a Liam Cooper header straight at home goalkeeper Vicente Guaita and a shot from substitute Joe Gelhardt their only efforts on target.
In the last 10 minutes Zaha twice had attempts blocked by the legs of Meslier as Leeds held on for what could prove to be a valuable point.
The result leaves Leeds – who play Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea in their next three games before ending the season with matches against Brighton and Brentford – in 16th place on 34 points, although 18th-placed Everton, on 29 points, have a game in hand.
League leaders Manchester City are one point above Liverpool and travel to Elland Road on Saturday, with Leeds boss Jesse Marsch calling Pep Guardiola’s side the “biggest Goliath in football in the world”.
However, Marsch said his side would not play with any fear, adding: “I know a little bit about the way Pep likes to play. We will try to create an aggressive gameplan but one that can also help us find a way to get a result.
“I know what this game will require and how good the opponent is, but, whatever, let’s go for it.”
Crystal Palace 0-0 Leeds: Marsch pleased with second consecutive clean sheet
Hard-to-beat Leeds get the point their fight deserves
Only bottom-of-the-table Norwich City (69) have conceded more Premier League goals this season than Leeds’ 68 but in the seven games since Marsch replaced the sacked Marcelo Bielsa in February, the American has turned Leeds into a team that is hard to beat.
Aided by superb defending, with Cooper and Diego Llorente repeatedly making crucial blocks, tackles or interceptions, Leeds will feel they got the point their hard work merited, and, with a tough run of fixtures coming up, will be happy with the result.
For Palace, who lost in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley earlier this month, the draw takes them on to 38 points and surely secures what will be a 10th successive season in the top flight.
The match at a packed and passionate Selhurst Park was played at a frenetic pace throughout, but with both sides repeatedly lacking quality in the final areas.
The hosts had an early chance when Leeds failed to deal with a ball forward and Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta got to it before the advancing Meslier but did not get enough power on the shot and Llorente was able to clear.
Mateta also headed at Meslier and another opportunity saw him unable to get a clean connection on Jordan Ayew’s superb cross from the right wing.
For Leeds, who handed a first start in 2022 to England midfielder Kalvin Phillips after a hamstring injury, Cooper’s tame header at the back post from Jack Harrison’s corner was their only attempt on target in the opening 45 minutes.
Things threatened to boil over in the last few minutes of the first half, with Leeds players incensed when the often-fouled Zaha pushed his hand into the face of Raphinha, but avoided a booking, before Palace defender Joachim Andersen was shown a yellow card when sliding in late on Rodrigo.
The bad-tempered nature of the match continued early in the second half with Leeds’ Daniel James catching Joel Ward, with the defender reacting angrily and both players getting cautioned.
Palace ended the game strongly with Leeds forced to defend deep as they battled to secure the point.
But Leeds got the draw they deserved and have now picked up 11 points from the seven games under Marsch.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Leeds: Vieira says Palace deserved more than a point
‘He’s a good player, but he dives too much’
Phillips, back in the starting 11 for the first time since 5 December, said: “My first start in almost four months and I was happy to be out there.
“We started OK first half but disappointed not to get three points. We go into every game wanting three points but if we can’t score, we have to shut up shop and we did that.”
However, the Leeds and England midfielder was unhappy with Crystal Palace’s Zaha and added: “He is a good player, but we defended against him well as a team.
“The ref complained at us for fouling him but I think he dives a lot to be honest with you.”
Vieira defended the Ivory Coast international, saying: “I was happy Wilf Zaha kept his cool because it looked like they planned to stop him by fouling him.
“That won’t be the first time teams try to frustrate him.”
Player of the match
MeslierIllan Meslier
Crystal Palace
Squad number23Player nameGallagher
Squad number7Player nameOlise
Squad number11Player nameZaha
Squad number18Player nameMcArthur
Squad number6Player nameGuéhi
Squad number13Player nameGuaita
Squad number10Player nameEze
Squad number2Player nameWard
Squad number16Player nameAndersen
Squad number17Player nameClyne
Squad number14Player nameMateta
Squad number20Player nameBenteke
Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew
Squad number15Player nameSchlupp
Leeds United
Squad number1Player nameMeslier
Squad number2Player nameAyling
Squad number6Player nameCooper
Squad number14Player nameLlorente
Squad number15Player nameDallas
Squad number23Player namePhillips
Squad number10Player nameRaphinha
Squad number22Player nameHarrison
Squad number19Player nameRodrigo
Squad number5Player nameKoch
Squad number30Player nameGelhardt
Squad number20Player nameJames
Squad number43Player nameKlich
Squad number42Player nameGreenwood
Line-ups
Crystal Palace
Formation 4-3-3
13Guaita
17Clyne16Andersen6Guéhi2Ward
23Gallagher18McArthur10Eze
9J Ayew14Mateta11Zaha
- 13Guaita
- 17Clyne
- 16AndersenBooked at 45mins
- 6Guéhi
- 2WardBooked at 51mins
- 23Gallagher
- 18McArthur
- 10EzeSubstituted forSchluppat 79′minutes
- 9J AyewSubstituted forOliseat 67′minutes
- 14MatetaSubstituted forBentekeat 84′minutes
- 11Zaha
Substitutes
- 1Butland
- 5Tomkins
- 7Olise
- 8Kouyaté
- 12Hughes
- 15Schlupp
- 20Benteke
- 22Édouard
- 34Kelly
Leeds
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Meslier
2Ayling14Llorente6Cooper15Dallas
43Klich23Phillips
10Raphinha19Rodrigo22Harrison
20James
- 1Meslier
- 2Ayling
- 14LlorenteBooked at 77mins
- 6Cooper
- 15Dallas
- 43KlichSubstituted forKochat 45′minutes
- 23Phillips
- 10Raphinha
- 19RodrigoSubstituted forGelhardtat 74′minutes
- 22Harrison
- 20JamesBooked at 50minsSubstituted forGreenwoodat 59′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Firpo
- 5Koch
- 13Klaesson
- 21Struijk
- 26Bate
- 30Gelhardt
- 35Cresswell
- 42Greenwood
- 54Kenneh
Referee:Darren England
Attendance:25,357
Live Text
Match ends, Crystal Palace 0, Leeds United 0.
Second Half ends, Crystal Palace 0, Leeds United 0.
Attempt saved. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Michael Olise with a cross.
Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Luke Ayling.
Attempt blocked. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jeffrey Schlupp.
James McArthur (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sam Greenwood (Leeds United).
Foul by Joel Ward (Crystal Palace).
Raphinha (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
James McArthur (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Luke Ayling (Leeds United).
Attempt saved. Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Michael Olise.
Offside, Crystal Palace. Christian Benteke tries a through ball, but Wilfried Zaha is caught offside.
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Christian Benteke replaces Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Foul by Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace).
Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Illan Meslier.
Attempt saved. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the bottom left corner.
Attempt saved. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jeffrey Schlupp.
Attempt saved. Joe Gelhardt (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Luke Ayling.
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