Fulham had to settle for a point at Selhurst Park this afternoon after failing to convert a succession of chances in a London derby that was devoid of quality in the final third. Crystal Palace were determined and well organised, as any Roy Hodgson side will be, but the hosts were indebted to England goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who made four excellent saves, for their share of the spoils.

Marco Silva’s big selection decision was whether to give Carlos Vinicius a first start of the season after the Brazilian bagged the winner within five minutes of replacing Raul Jimenez against Luton last week. The Fulham boss stuck with his summer signing, but the Mexican striker extended his barren run to 29 league matches without a goal – as Johnstone spread himself well just before the break when the former Wolves forward looked favourite to convert Andreas Pereira’s peach of a pass and then heading wide in the second period as the visitors pushed for a winner.

Johnstone did well to turn an angled drive from Pereira away from danger early on as Fulham’s left-sided duo of the impressive Antonee Robinson and Willian linked nicely with the former Manchester United number ten. Willian was also denied by Johnstone in the first half and the wily winger will feel he should have been the goalkeeper after brilliant play by Timothy Castagne, who had replaced an injured Kenny Tete, and Harrison Reed along the right flank.

Fulham looked largely toothless up top without Aleksandar Mitrovic and neither Vinicius or Alex Iwobi were able to speak the Whites in action from the bench as they had last week, whilst Hodgson – returning to the dugout after illness prevent him for taking charge of Palace at Aston Villa – will have been pleased with his side’s defensive resolution. The Eagles have only lost twice in the league at home since January, but they struggled to create many clear-cut chances to test Bernd Leno in the Fulham goal.

Ebere Eze, who was on Fulham’s books as a youngster, was the home side’s likeliest source of a goal but even his electric feet couldn’t break the stalemate. Eze, making his hundredth appearance for Palace, eluded two tacklers before firing fractionally wide of goal. The former QPR midfielder was furious to be denied a penalty in the second period when he tumbled theatrically under a challenge from Reed, but card-happy referee Paul Tierney shook his head. Eze did play a lovely ball through the Fulham back four for Odsonn Edoaurd but the French forward was flagged offside. Substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta nodded into Leno’s hands late on as this forgettable fixture petered out.

The clean sheet will please both managers, who shared a long embrace before kick off. Hodgson will definitely be the happier of the two after Johnstone’s heroics kept Fulham at bay, but the visitors’ eighth away top flight clean sheet since being promoted back to the Premier League last year certainly shouldn’t be sniffed at. Silva will need to solve the goalscoring conundrum swiftly if he wants to improve on last season’s mid-table finish.

CRYSTAL PALACE (4-2-3-1): Johnstone; Ward, Mitchell, Andersen, Guehi; Doucoure, Hughes; J. Ayew, Eze, Schlupp (Mateta 70); Edouard (Rak-Sakyi 90). Subs (not used): Henderson, Clyne, Ebiowie, Holding, Richards, Matthews, Riedewald.

BOOKED: J. Ayew, Mitchell, Doucoure.

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, A. Robinson, Diop, Ream; Palhinha, Reed; Decordova-Reid (Wilson 79), Willian, Pereira (Iwobi 75); Jimenez (Vincius 75). Subs (not used): Rodak, Ballo-Toure, Bassey, Francois, Cairney, Wilson, Vinicius, Muniz.

BOOKED: Palhinha, Ream.

REFEREE: Paul Tierney (Greater Manchester).

ATTENDANCE: 25,072