The Owls earned a merited point at Selhurst Park, playing out a goalless draw against Crystal Palace which spurned plenty of chances for both sides.

Palace enjoyed most of the early play and had the better of the chances but Wednesday came out for the second period with more threat in the final third and took the game to the hosts.

Marcus Tudgay came closest for the Owls, seeing his shot cleared off the line shortly after his introduction from the bench, but a 0-0 draw was probably a fair result.

Wednesday made one change from the side that defeated Cardiff City on Saturday with Leon Clarke replacing Tudgay up front. The Owls' leading scorer was still feeling the effects of a recent neck strain and not yet at 100 per cent, allowing Clarke his first start of the season.

And the Owls started lively with in-form winger Etienne Esajas attacking Clint Hill down the left before being chopped down by the defender, resulting in a first-minute booking for the Palace full back.

But it was Palace who had the first chance to make a real impression when Darren Ambrose centred for Patrick McCarthy, who scuffed his close-range shot wide of the target.

Moments later, the Eagles wasted another golden opportunity when Victor Moses burst down the right to cross for Ambrose, who miskicked his shot with the goal gaping.

Palace were certainly enjoying the best of the early exchanges but without reward as Alan Lee was next to scupper an opportunity with 11 minutes gone. Moses was at the heart of the move as he whipped a dangerous ball into the box from the left which Lee volleyed wide from seven yards.

Wednesday fought their way into the match and showed some threat going forward. And on the half hour, the visitors carved a good chance when Michael Gray sent a dangerous ball across the face of goal but no one in a yellow short had gambled on his delivery.

The Owls showed more promise towards the end of the half and might have taken the lead when a long ball over the top from Esajas sent Clarke charging down on goal but the striker, who was forced wide, drilled his shot into the side netting.

On the stroke of half time, Wednesday broke quickly from a Palace corner when James O'Connor played a neat through ball to Clarke, who once more used his pace to dart into the box and fired just over the crossbar.

The Owls began the second half with real purpose as Spurr won possession in his own half - playing an early ball forward for Varney and Clarke, who linked up well, with the latter having a clear sight of goal and despite a clear save by Julian Speroni the referee awarded Palace a goalkick.

The visitors began to put Palace under pressure and Clarke was the man on the end of another decent chance for Wednesday. A clever flick from Lewis Buxton played Esajas in behind Hill, and the Dutchman teed up Clarke, who shot wide.

It was a nervy opening 15 minutes in the second period for the hosts, epitomised by a near-costly error by Speroni, who failed to deal with Buxton's cross, allowing Clarke a half chance as the striker hooked over the bar.

Wednesday were given a warning on 65 minutes when a long throw found its way to Neil Danns outside the box and the midfielder struck a fierce shot at goal which deflected off his team mate Lee for goal kick.

Tudgay, who came from the bench in the second half, was unlucky not to score with his first effort on goal. From Darren Potter's free kick, the ball fell kindly for Tudgay, who shot on target with Speroni grounded from the earlier free kick, but Butterfield was positioned well to clear off the line.

Palace pressed for what would have been the winner in the dying stages but the Owls remained solid at the back to post an a well-earned point.

Owls: Grant, Buxton, Purse, Wood, Spurr, Gray, Potter, O'Connor, Esajas (Johnson 83), Varney (Sodje 62), Clarke (Tudgay 62)

Unused substitutes: O'Donnell, Simek, Beevers, Miller

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Hill, Derry, McCarthy, Fonte, Ambrose (Carle 73), Danns, Moses (Smith 77), Lee, Butterfield, N'Diaye (Scannell 57)

Unused substitutes: Flahavan, Clyne, Hills, Ertl

Attendance: 12,476 (1,046 away)

Referee: Trevor Kettle