Holloway's Eagles fail to break down Freedman's Bolton (From Sutton Guardian)

No goals to warm up the Selhurst faithful as Palace come up against a brick wall Bolton

5:05pm Saturday 19th January 2013 in Crystal Palace By Tim Ashton

Dougie Freedman knows his former Crystal Palace players well, and he had his tactics down to a tee to frustrate the Eagles in an uninspiring 0-0 Championship draw at Selhurst Park.

Prior to the visit of Freedman and Bolton Wanderers, Ian Holloway’s men had scored once in three games and despite having plenty of possession they could not add to that tally.

At one point, the dangerous Yannick Bolasie was surrounded by four defenders as Bolton shut the door time and again on any Palace attack.

Even Wilfried Zaha, who had full back Marcos Alonso in his pocket for much of the second half could not find a way through Freedman’s well organised defence.

Holloway gave Jacob Butterfield his debut and a first start to Alex Nimely – maybe that was the reason behind a disjoined first half Palace display.

Glenn Murray had the ball in the Trotters’ net in the first half only to be ruled offside, and Chris Eagles was fortunate not to be sent off for a second yellow card after squaring up to Dean Moxey – a decision for which the referee was not very popular.

Palace improved after the break but could not breakdown the Bolton rearguard although sub Alex Marrow went close in injury time, forcing a rare save out of Adam Bogdan.

But in the end there was no dividing the teams, one well set up by a former manager, the other uninspired by the current manager.

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