Crystal Palace and 10-man Everton failed to make their goalscoring opportunities count in this evening's Premier League match at Selhurst Park.
Chances were created at either end, but the final touch was lacking, and matters were made worse for Everton when James McCarthy was sent off seven minutes after the restart for a second bookable offence.
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It was a lively start from the hosts as they tested goalkeeper Joel Robles within the first five minutes with an attempt from a corner kick.
The ball was initially cleared by John Stones, but Yannick Bolasie picked up the loose ball before unleashing a 20-yard shot, which was saved by Robles.
A few minutes later, Wilfried Zaha made the most of Ross Barkley's misplaced pass by directing it towards Dwight Gayle, who shot first time from in the box, but his attempt nicked the post and went out for a goal kick.
Palace had Everton on the ropes for the first few minutes, but the visitors were able to hold to get a stronghold in the game and came close to scoring when Seamus Coleman tried an eight-yard volley, but keeper Wayne Hennessey palmed the ball away.
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At the other end, Zaha showed off his pace by breaking away from Leighton Baines and taking a shot from a tight angle, but his effort soared over the crossbar.
Everton posed a bigger threat towards the end of the first half when Romelu Lukaku's close-range shot was blocked by the keeper, but Gayle came close to scoring with an audacious scissor kick from 15 yards out.
The Palace striker tried to make the most of Everton's failure to clear a long ball, but his shot drifted just wide of the post.
After the break, Palace started brightly again as Zaha and Yohan Cabaye linked up before playing the ball out wide to Bolasie, who cut inside before attempting to curl it into the net, but his effort went over the bar.
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Everton were dealt a blow in the 52nd minute when James McCarthy was sent off after being shown a second yellow card for blocking Bolasie.
The visitors seemed to cope well with the disadvantage, but they had Robles to thank in the 63rd minute when Mile Jedinak played in Puncheon, who unleashed a first-time shot, but the keeper made the stop.
Cabaye kept the move alive as he followed up with a shot from the edge of the area, but Robles stayed alert and made another save to deny Palace.
At the other end, Everton missed an opportunity when Stones got on the end of a corner kick, but his powerful header went straight into the keeper's hands.
Emmanuel Adebayor almost made an impact when he came off the substitutes' bench as he was picked out by Puncheon at the back post, but his header drifted wide.
Both teams continued to search for a winner, but it was not to be as they took home a point apiece at the final whistle.
Palace remain 16th in the Premier League table, while Everton have moved up to 12th.
Danielle Joynson
