Newcastle United have returned to third position in the Premier League table courtesy of a goalless draw with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
The Magpies had a number of opportunities to score during an entertaining clash in the capital, but they were made to settle for a share of the spoils.
The result is enough for Eddie Howe's side to move above Manchester United into third spot in the table, now six points ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur on the same number of games (20).
Palace, meanwhile, remain 12th in the division, moving onto 24 points from their 20 league matches this term.
The first opportunity of the match came for Newcastle in the sixth minute when Joe Willock broke down the left before delivering a cross towards Miguel Almiron, but the attacker missed the target at the far post.
Dan Burn was next to try his luck in the 13th minute at the end of a smart Newcastle move, but his effort was saved by Vicente Guaita in the Palace goal.
Newcastle were the team carrying the threat, with Joelinton firing into the arms of Guaita in the 20th minute, and it was wave after wave of attacks from the Magpies during the mid-point of the first period.
Joelinton had another opportunity 10 minutes before the end of the first period when the ball broke for the Brazilian inside the Palace box, but his effort was brilliantly saved by Guaita.
Almiron then bent one wide of the Palace post late in the first period, which was dominated by the visitors, with Howe's side having eight goal attempts to Palace's three.
The Eagles did have the final opening of the first half, though, with Chris Richards heading over from a corner, which had been earned by Wilfried Zaha after the forward broke into the away side's penalty box.
Callum Wilson had the first half-chance of the second half in the 52nd minute, but the forward's header was straight at Guaita, before the Palace stopper kept out a drive from Joelinton four minutes later, with Newcastle looking the more likely to make the breakthrough.
Joel Ward did brilliantly to divert a Bruno Guimaraes cross away from the Palace goal on the hour mark, with Joelinton waiting at the far post to convert.
Sven Botman then headed a Kieran Trippier wide of the post in the 63rd minute, and Palace were forced to withdraw Zaha shortly after, with the attacker seemingly picking up a hamstring issue.
Palace had a brilliant chance to take the lead in the 73rd minute when the ball fell for Jean-Philippe Mateta inside the penalty box, but a stunning reaction save from Nick Pope kept the ball out.
Alexander Isak then headed one towards the Palace goal 10 minutes from time, but Guaita made the save, before Fabian Schar nodded over from a corner in the 85th minute.
Allan Saint-Maximin had one deflected over the crossbar in the 89th minute, and it proved to be a frustrating contest for Howe's side, as they were made to settle for a share of the spoils.
Next up for Newcastle is a trip to Southampton in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final on Tuesday, while Palace will continue their Premier League campaign against Manchester United on February 4, with the Eagles now having a long break due to being knocked out of the FA Cup by Southampton in the third round. body check tags ::
