WATFORD 0 CRYSTAL PALACE 0

Crystal Palace moved six points clear of the relegation zone after a goalless draw at Watford, where Wilfried Zaha was booked for diving at Vicarage Road for the second season in succession.

The result did little to take Palace closer to their ambition of preserving their top-flight status as they moved up to 15th with three remaining fixtures.

Roy Hodgson named the same starting XI that had repeatedly stretched Brighton in last week’s 3-2 victory, but the absence of Christian Benteke and the focal point he provides was significant throughout the first 45 minutes, when they often struggled to escape their own half.

When James Mcarthur struggled to clear a corner, Craig Cathcart was gifted a close-range chance, but he could only leave Wayne Hennessey with a routine save.

On the stroke of half-time, Zaha was brought down in the area by Abdoulaye Doucoure without being awarded a

penalty, and Doucoure responded by accusing the forward of diving.

Palace improved during the second half, but they could not create the clear goalscoring opportunity they required to significantly ease their relegation fears.

Luka Milivojevic curled a fine freekick against a post from the edge of the area after a foul on Zaha by his former team-mate Adrian Mariappa.

From another attack, Zaha then went down again in the area, and this time was rightly booked. Despite minimal contact from Mariappa, he was already on his way down when Will Hughes also caught him, and referee Christopher Kavanagh decided to punish the forward with a yellow card.

Palace’s final true sight on goal came in the 69th minute, when James Tomkins headed against the right post from Yohan Cabaye’s right-wing corner, with Orestis Karnezis well beaten.

Benteke was introduced for Mcarthur with 10 minutes remaining, but the goal-shy striker made little impact.

Unlike during last season’s 1-1 draw, Zaha was not mocked after the final whistle by a dive from Watford mascot Harry the Hornet.