Both sides have come close but neither has been able to find the opening goal in a scoreless first half between Crystal Palace and Manchester United in the Premier League clash at Selhurst Park.

The hosts came into the match on the back of a three-game losing streak but it was they who started the brighter, and they had a chance to open the scoring inside the first minute when Matteo Darmian's poor touch allowed Dwight Gayle to fire at David de Gea from the edge of the box.

Alan Pardew's side continued to take the game to the visitors in the opening period, and they came within inches of finding an early breakthrough when Yannick Bolasie smashed a shot off the crossbar from a tight angle.

Scott Dann forced De Gea to tip his header over the bar from Yohan Cabaye's corner as the Eagles knocked on the door yet again, but Louis van Gaal's side gradually settled into the match and had a clear chance to score after half an hour.

A fine pass from Anthony Martial played Wayne Rooney clear through on goal, but as the England captain tried to shift the ball onto his right foot Wayne Hennessey rushed off his line to smother the danger.

The hosts were not discouraged, however, and they threatened again with five minutes of the half to play when Cabaye dinked a ball over the top for Gayle, whose first-time shot was too weak to beat De Gea.

United's best move of the match arrived a minute before the whistle as Martial picked out Ander Herrera in the box, but the Spaniard lost his footing as he pulled the trigger and the shot was blocked.