An impressive cameo appearance by Sean Scannell was not enough to break the deadlock as Palace were held to a goalless draw at Selhurst Park for the first time this season.

The Irish forward came close on two occasions after replacing fellow 17-year-old Victor Moses on 62 minutes.

But Cardiff also had chances to break the deadlock, rendering the draw a fair result. 

Neil Warnock made just one change from the side that won at Preston, replacing left back Lee Hills with Clint Hill, now back from suspension.

That meant a place on the bench for Tom Soares and James Scowcroft, who also returned from one-game bans.

A chilly, windy evening saw the visitors start the best. Paul Parry looked lively and set up an opportunity for Trevor Sinclair, who side-footed wide. 

Cardiff threatened again three minutes later. Sinclair was again involved, exchanging passes with Riccardo Scimeca, before firing a shot that was parried wide of the post by Julian Speroni in the Palace goal.

It was 15 minutes before Palace had their first opening, Carl Fletcher's right wing cross glanced over by Clinton Morrison.

The game remained quiet until the 27th-minute, when Paul Ifill was replaced by Scowcroft.

Five minutes later, Roger Johnson got in front of Hill and forced a save from Speroni with a downward header.     

Up the other end, Morrison made a swift break and set up Ben Watson, whose low shot went wide across the face of the goal.

Moses, making his first home start, delivered a dangerous corner kick as the half drew to a close, but it produced nothing more than a mini scramble. 

A swift through ball put Morrison clear early in the second half, but he was muscled off the ball. The same fate befell Parry in a similar situation up the other end as Mark Hudson was more than equal to challenge.

On 59 minutes, Cardiff's Pete Whittingham created perhaps the best chance of the game. Picking up the ball in midfield, he accelerated past a couple of players and bore in on Speroni, but his shot cleared the bar - much to the relief of the home side.

Warnock made a double change three minutes later, putting on strikers Dougie Freedman and Scannell for Carl Fletcher and Moses.

Within 120 seconds, Scannell was put through by Scowcroft. Though the youngster had only goalkeeper Peter Enckelman to beat, his shot was tame and easily held.

Cardiff then came closer with 20 minutes remaining but there was nobody on hand to convert a wicked corner.

Five minutes later, City substitute Aaron Ramsey struck a powerful low drive that was tipped by Speroni onto the post. The ball rebounded to safety but, from a corner seconds later, a game of football ping pong took place in the Eagles' area.

When a goal for Cardiff looked on the cards, the ball was not only cleared, it was transported into the path of Scannell in the centre circle with plenty of space and only two loosely-positioned defenders for company. The 17-year-old showed a swift turn of pace and a touch of class to set up a scoring opportunity by turning inside Scimeca. However, his shot was the only disappointment as he sliced his effort off-target.  

Palace: Speroni; Butterfield, Hill, Hudson (c), Lawrence; Ifill (Scowcroft 26), Fletcher (Freedman 62), Derry, Watson; Morrison, Moses (Scannell 62).

Subs Not Used: Soares, Hills.

Cardiff City: Enckelman, McNaughton, Capaldi, Loovens, Whittingham, McPhail (c), Parry, Johnson, Sinclair (Ramsey 70), Scimeca (Rae 64), Thompson.

Subs Not Used: Purse, Oakes, Hasselbaink.

Attendance: 13,446.

Referee: Mr Scott Mathieson (Cheshire). Assistant Referees: G. Evetts, J. Hopkins. Fourth Official: O. Saliy