AMSTERDAM – Aston Villa netminder Brad Guzan had a fairly easy time in running his Premier League shutout streak to 257 minutes on New Year's Day, but the hosts were also unable to break through in a frustrating 0-0 stalemate with relegation bait Crystal Palace.
The US star's workload was limited to four cross captures on the day. Guzan was also helped out when Yannick Bolasie struck the crossbar on a 17th minute breakaway.
The shutout was Guzan's seventh of the season, keeping him two back of Southampton backstop Fraser Forster's league lead. As for 12th place Villa, they have now gone three games without a goal and five without a win.
Elsewhere, Geoff Cameron and Stoke City held visiting Manchester United to a 1-1 draw.
It was not the strongest day on the ball for the right back, and he narrowly missed nodding Stoke back in front from a restart near the half hour. At the defensive end, Cameron logged three tackles and two pass picks as the 11th place Potters remained unbeaten in three.
Finally, Jozy Altidore went unused for the third time in four games as Sunderland fell 3-2 away to defending champs Manchester City. Just three points above the danger line in 14th place, the Black Cats have but one win in 10.
