Crystal Palace have been held to a 0-0 draw by QPR in a game that will be remembered more for the fourth official, who was to replace the linesman, taking a couple of minutes to warm up along the touch line than any actual moments from the match.

But Neil Warnock will be encouraged by clean sheet, the first in three  games, as well as compact performance against a QPR side that would have been buoyed by the arrival of their new manager.

In the first half, Palace were much the better side, patiently building up play in a bid to find a small gap between QPR's water tight lines.

The home side recorded their first chance with only three minutes on the clock when Craig Beattie found himself free inside the box, on a tight angle, 15 yards from goal. Receiving the ball to his feet he swivelled and attempted a curled effort to the far post, but the keeper saved comfortably.

QPR responded five minutes later with a half chance from Real Madrid starlet Daniel Parejo when he connected with a Patrick Agyemang cross to flick the ball across goal. But he would have been disappointed had he known the amount of space he actually had to maybe have taken a touch.

Palace continued to dominate but their chances were kept at a premium. Ben Watson's 14th minute low shot was the closest of the early exchanges when he found himself in space, 20 yards from goal and drilled in a shot that ran just wide of the post.

While Paul Ifill came even closer in the 41st when he worked some space for himself just inside the box and smashed a low drive that hit the post.

The second half began in the most memorable of circumstances as QPR substitute Heider Helguson missed the chance of the season when he played the ball wide of an open goal. It was as bad as it sounds. Speroni had come out to close the angle when Helguson was put through but, as he rounded the Palace keeper, he screwed his shot from 18 yards past the post.

A scare for Palace but a sign for things to come because they came out to the second half a changed side. Much more nervous and disjointed, they failed to impose themselves on the early exchanges and QPR pushed in search of a breakthrough.

On 50 minutes, full back Peter Ramage ghosted in round the back of the Eagles defence to connect with a deep cross but his left footed volley, with the inside of his boot, looped on to the top of the net.

Blackstock then came close five minutes later when he squirmed away from his two markers on the edge of the box to shoot low to the near post however Speroni saved down to his left.

And the bad spell continued into the hour mark as substitute Martin Rowlands was allowed way too much space outside the area to measure up a shot from 20 yards. Luckily for the home side though  the midfielder dragged his shot wide.

Changes needed to be made and Neil Warnock obliged with the introduction of Shaun Derry, who took the captain's armband from Clint Hill, and Shefki Kuqi.

And the big man up front had an immediate impact as his size and, surprisingly, his pace began to cause the QPR defence some problems.

On 71 minutes Kuqi forged his first chance when he connected with a superb John Oster cross. But the ball was slightly behind him and he had to reach behind himself to get a header away, which meant the effort was weak and Cerny gathered.

Nathanial Clyne, who was making his third consecutive appearance in a Palace shirt, had again impressed all afternoon with his defensive play. But, in 72nd minute, he almost had an assist to his name when he put in a brilliant whipped cross for Sean Scannell. However the winger could not direct his header on goal and it flew harmlessly wide.

The game then entered into a dull period where both sides failed to get a grip on play and it only came back into life in the five minutes of stoppage time when Craig Beattie had a great chance to win it late on.

Slipped through the QPR defence by a great pass from substitue Leandre Griffit, on the outside of the box he shot across the keeper, who saved down to his right. But the ball slipped out of his hands and Kuqi tried to follow up but the defender did enough to hold him back as Cerny kicked it away.

It was to be the final chance of the game and referee Rob Styles blew up for full time soon after.

Stay with cpfc.co.uk for Neil Warnock's post-match press conference. The full press conference will be posted later exclusively on Palace World. To sign up for World click on the link below.

Att: 16,411 (1,731 away)

Team News

At a glance: Paul Ifill is preferred to Shefki Kuqi in an otherwise unchange line up from Tuesday night's victory away at Carrow Road. One notable inclusion on the bench is that of winger Leandre Griffit who make a return from injury.

Crystal Palace - 1. Julian Speroni, 3. Clint Hill (c), 5. Paddy McCarthy, 6. Jose Fonte, 10. Nick Carle (4.Shaun Derry, 64), 14. Sean Scannell (27. Leandre Griffit, 86) 19. Craig Beattie, 23. Paul Ifill (32. Shefki Kuqi, 64), 24. Ben Watson, 26.John Oster, 43.Nathanial Clyne.

Subs- 2.Matt Lawrence, 11.Victor Moses

QPR - 24. Radek Cerny, 2. Damien Delany, 3. Damion Stewart, 4. Gavin Mahon (c), 6. Mikele Leigertwood, 7. Daniel Parejo (27. Heider Helguson, 45), 9. Dexter Blackstock (14. Martin Rowlands, 58), 11. Patrick Agyemang (22. Samuel Di Carmine, 90 +1), 13. Kaspar Gorkss, 15. Peter Ramage, 25. Hogan Ephraim

Subs -   23. Jake Cole, 29. Gary Borrowdale

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