This was the result nobody expected. With two free-scoring and in-form teams, everything about this fixture seemed to point to goals.
But Bournemouth supporters enjoyed their festivities early this year after three straight wins lifted them away from the relegation zone. A fourth, against the high-flying Eagles proved just out of reach.
Posession stats
As expected, neither team played for the point and the game fizzed by at a frenetic pace throughout.
The first real chance came as Frazier Campbell’s cross looped up off Adam Smith and on to the roof of the net.
Bournemouth attacking stats
From the resulting corner, Damien Delaney’s volley was blocked on the line by Simon Francis as the Eagles made a bright start.
Junior Stanislas was a doubt for this game but he was passed fit to play and his intelligent flick let in Harry Arter to hit Bournemouth’s first shot on target, saved comfortably by Wayne Hennessey.
Adam Smith of Bournemouth tackles Jason Puncheon of Crystal Palace
This always looked an intriguing game and so it proved. Palace’s next effort fell to Campbell who scooped narrowly over the bar after Delaney’s excellent pass had reached him on the edge of the box.
Matt Ritchie should have given the Cherries the lead as he headed Stanislas’ cross wide of the far post, though Glenn Murray appeared to get in the winger’s way as he made contact.
The pendulum was beginning to swing Bournemouth’s way as Scott Dann did superbly to deflect Dan Gosling’s shot wide of the post with Howe’s side causing plenty of problems for the Eagles’ back line.
Palace attacking stats
Tempers then flared as Harry Arter caught Wilfried Zaha with a late tackle, prompting some Boxing Day handbags. Arter attempted a handshake with Zaha as the players headed for the tunnel at half-time but the Palace forward shunned the apology and Howe substituted his midfielder at the interval.
Arter’s replacement, Eunan O’Kane, forced a strong save from Hennessey as he smashed a shot at goal following a flurry of short passes in the Bournemouth midfield.
Howe described Palace as “ a club we would like to emulate” and the Cherries were certainly matching them here.
Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew
But Alan Pardew also made a change at half-time with Yohan Cabaye replacing the ineffective Jordon Mutch.
The Frenchman added guile to the Eagles and posed a threat at set-pieces but Bournemouth were holding firm.
Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha in action with Bournemouth's Steve Cook
Each manager changed his striker but there was a dearth of chances in the closing stages with a point, ahead of another fixture in 48 hours, not looking too shabby for either side.
Palace will go into their match with Swansea in fifth place, new investors and a manager poised to extend his contract: 2016 promises much.
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