CRYSTAL PALACE 0 EVERTON 0

Wantaway winger Wilfried Zaha came off the bench for Crystal Palace as they played out a goalless stalemate with his suitors Everton at Selhurst Park.

The visitors were reduced to ten men following Morgan Schneiderlin’s second-half dismissal, but created the better chances to secure an openingday victory – only for both sides to have to settle for a share of the spoils.

The Toffees had targeted Zaha during the transfer window, with the Ivory Coast international reportedly handing in a transfer request in an attempt to push through a move.

Instead deadline day passed and Zaha remained at Palace and came on in the second half as Roy Hodgson looked to pick up three points.

These two shared a goalless draw in south London towards the end of last season and, with Palace never winning an opening day Premier League home game and Everton only tasting victory in two of their past 11 first fixtures, there was an air of inevitability here.

Speaking before the game, Hodgson said he “wouldn’t have any hesitation” turning to Zaha off the bench and he did just that with 65 minutes on the clock as the home fans rose to toast their talisman.

Soon after, Everton were reduced to ten men as Schneiderlin, booked earlier in the second half for a foul on Jordan Ayew, picked up a second yellow card for tripping Eagles skipper Luka Milivojevic.

The visitors were well on top for the early stages without testing Vicente Guaita in the Palace goal, Gylfi Sigurdsson guilty of missing the best chance as he scuffed a shot wide when well placed.

Guaita was finally tested with half an hour on the clock, beating away Seamus Coleman’s close-range effort before Dominic Calvert-lewin eventually headed wide.

Coleman was then on hand to keep the game goalless as he blocked Max Meyer’s strike behind for a corner.

Schneiderlin was given his marching orders by Jonathan Moss, leaving Silva’s side to play the remaining 14 minutes a man short, something they did with little threat to Pickford’s goal .