Palace 0-0 Barnsley

Crystal Palace fell further behind in the race for the automatic promotion places as they drew with relegation-threatened Barnsley.

The result saw Barnsley, who had to wear Palace’s away shirt at referee Kevin Stroud’s request due to a colour clash, involved in their first goalless draw of the season.

“It was all a bit surreal before the game to be honest with you," said Holloway on the pre-match kit fiasco.

"The ref said something about sleeves in the box but I don’t get it.

“We looked a little bit nervous and then some of the football was very good. I feel a tinge of disappointment. You can’t want things too much but let’s get on with it and stick behind them.”

Holloway’s side remain in fourth place but have now failed to claim a victory in their last five games or even score in their last four after defeats against Brighton, Birmingham and Blackpool. It leaves them eight points behind Hull in second.

The Tykes, who have recently beaten the likes of Leicester, Watford and Brighton to leap out of the relegation zone, failed to test Julian Speroni but were extremely tight at the back throughout the match.

Palace’s first real opportunity came in the 17th minute when a curling Andre Moritz free-kick was beaten away by Luke Steele.

Steele came to Barnsley’s rescue just before the half-hour mark when Glenn Murray collected a pass from Wilfried Zaha but was unable to dink the ball over the oncoming keeper.

Holloway brought on Kevin Phillips, Stephen Dobbie and Aaron Wilbraham in search of a goal but the attacking trio were unable to break down a ruthless Barnsley side - with Wilbraham firing an excellent late chance over the bar.

Palace travel to Ipswich on April 16 before facing promotion rivals Leicester at Selhurst Park.