Bournemouth were unable to significantly close the gap on fourth-placed Arsenal as they were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Crystal Palace.
Andoni Iraola’s side are now unbeaten in their last six Premier League matches although slipped to sixth place as Newcastle moved above them after failing to take their chances.
Bournemouth had 18 shots to Palace’s 10 but both sides hit the target only four times each, with the visitors finding the net during the first half through Ismaila Sarr, who was flagged offside.
The hosts went closest when Antoine Semenyo’s close-range shot was cleared off the line in the 23rd minute by Sarr before missing a hatful of chances in the second period.
Semenyo dragged wide and so too did substitutes Evanilson and Philip Billing. Palace did see Eberechi Eze kept out by Kepa Arrizabalaga with Bournemouth racing up the other end to force goalkeeper Dean Henderson into a reaction save from Enes Unal.
Palace were holding on in the final minutes to move five points clear of the bottom three when Semenyo’s header missed the target by inches.
Illya Zabarnyi challenges Eberechi Eze
Huijsen shines again in Bournemouth defence
Sky Sports’ David Richardson:
Dean Huijsen is seizing his chance at the heart of the Bournemouth defence and fast becoming one of the Premier League’s top young defenders.
The 19-year-old centre-back, who signed for Bournemouth on a six-year deal from Juventus in the summer, has shone having started in the last five league matches, scoring twice and helping keep three clean sheets.
Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen challenges Jean-Philippe Mateta
Huijsen stood up to the test of Crystal Palace’s versatile frontline – the strength of Jean-Philippe Mateta coupled with the pace and trickery of Ismaila Sarr and Eberechi Eze.
He won the most duels of any player, the most tackles and had the highest pass completion rate. Huijsen’s only mistake was a cynical foul on Sarr that earned a yellow card. Bournemouth have a gem.
Guehi: Not what you want to see on Boxing Day!
Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi:
“It was a rubbish game. Boring for the neutral. Not what you want to see on Boxing Day but we’ll take it.”
Iraola: We did half the job
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola said:
“We have to value the point. We wanted the three but we’ve done half of the job. We’ve kept a clean sheet and defended quite well considering the level of their offensive players but we missed something in the last third.
“With their back five, they have three very good defenders and two holding midfielders, the chances you’re going to have are probably not going to be super clear. But you need to shoot from the edge, one good header, one set play, we’ve had these chances but we haven’t been able to score.
“If you look at the stats, we deserved more but they were also a threat.”
Glasner: A good performance and an important point
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner said:
“The away point here is fine. They won against Arsenal and Manchester City here and four days ago at Old Trafford.
“They play very direct in behind. They have a lot of pace. That makes it difficult to defend and play against.
“Sometimes we moved the ball really quick and created situations. It was a good performance and a very important point.”
