PALACE TAKE THE POINTS AS TOWN CAN’T HIT THE TARGET AT HOME ... AGAIN

Had little to do but was beaten by a high-quality finish from Wilfried Zaha on 38 minutes which he had no chance with Tried to push forward with purpose down the right but struggled with final pass. Had a shot scrambled off the line Not as involved as in many other matches, but generally solid and made a fine block on the breaking Zaha late on Adama Diakhaby Made one electric break into the box - 6 Laurent Depoitre Bustling show up front - 6 Isaac Mbenza Didn’t get to break past the defence -6 TOWN were desperately unlucky not to get a draw against Crystal Palace, but they remain without a goal or a win at home in the Premier League this season.

While Wilfried Zaha’s brilliant 38th-minute strike settled an entertaining clash at the John Smith’s Stadum, birthday boy Aaron Mooy saw Town’s closest effort bounce out off the inside of a post.

It was a sickening moment for Town and their fans in a crowd of 23,636, who had witnessed some promising attacking play without the much-needed final outcome.

David Wagner’s men have now gone five months without notching at home (since Tom Ince against Watford in April), and that remains their only strike in the last eight home league matches.

Left wing-back Chris Lowe was at the heart of most of Town’s best attacking moves, while Mooy always tried to get them on the front foot and Phil Billing also prompted with some class.

Wagner made one change to the starting line-up which drew so encouragingly at Everton, bringing in Elias Kachunga for fitness doubt Adama Diakhaby and retaining the three centre-backs formation.

And Kachunga had the first chance for Town, being flagged fractionally offside as Steve Mounie flicked on a Billing long throw.

Then, at the other end in a frenetic opening spell, Zanka was forced to block from Andros Townsend after build-up work from Zaha, who started after recovering from an adductor injury.

James McArthur went into the book for a clumsy challenge on Flo Hadergjonaj but, minutes later, Cheikhou Kouyate somehow escaped punishment from referee Lee Mason for a far worse, late and high tackle on Billing.

Town then had a fantastic chance to take the lead on 17.

Mooy played a fantastic crossfield pass to Lowe on the left and his crisp cross should have been buried by Mounie, but his header from six yards out was inches over the top.

Billing then released Hadergjonaj into space down the right, but his first-time cross was flicked away under pressure. It then got very tasty. Firstly Zanka was booked for