Thinking about my man-of-the-match for today.

It is going to be a close call between Wilfried Zaha and Mamadou Sakho.

Zaha tries to work a one-two with Christian Benteke in the Boro penalty area, but the striker's pass is too heavy and the chance is lost.

Boro should be level.

Goalscoring has been their problem and it has come back to sting them once again.

Uruguayan Cristhian Stuani is quickest to react to a knockdown in the area, but this angled shot is straight at Wayne Hennessey.

Either side of the Welshman and Boro would be celebrating.

Palace winger Wilfried Zaha has seen plenty of the ball today and collects it in a promising position deep in the Boro half, but rockets a shot over the crossbar from the edge of the box.

Not getting any closer, to be fair.

Tame.

Gaston Ramirez lines it up and although his free-kick is accurate, it lacks significant pace and Wayne Hennessey can take two steps to his right to claim the ball.

Now Boro have a free-kick on the edge of the area after goalscorer Patrick van Aanholt mis-times his sliding challenge and brings down Adam Forshaw.

Considering he has not played all season, Mamadou Sakho has had an assured game at the back for Palace so far.

His signing could be the difference in staying up or going down at the end of the season.

Image source, Reuters

Midfielder Adam Forshaw does not score many and you can see why.

The Boro man finds space around 30 yards out, but shanks his effort badly wide of goal.

"Waheyyy," scream the Palace supporters.

Lovely play from Wilfried Zaha immediately after the restart, nutmegging a Boro defender, but the cross into the box is cleared by Stewart Downing.

Back under way at Selhurst Park.

Aitor Karanka twists at half time and throws Rudy Gestede on in place of Alvaro Negredo.

Can he make the difference?

You can see how far the Boro defenders were entrenched in their own half in the first 45 minutes.

Having not won in their previous eight Premier League games, the showing so far suggests that will extend to nine.

Image source, Opta

Possession-wise, it has been very even but that does not show the story of the match.

Palace have had nine shots to Middlesbrough's two, while they also lead on the scoreboard.

Image source, Opta

There goes the half-time whistle.

Sam Allardyce will go into the changing rooms the happier manager.

You won't believe it but Jason Puncheon has just had another shot which narrowly misses that very hospitality box he just hit a minute before.

The need to extend the goal at that end of the pitch...by about 50 feet.

Most touches from any player on the pitch so far? Palace full-back Joel Ward with 38. His cross to the back edge of the box is at a lovely height for Jason Puncheon, but the winger's volley is ugly and ends up in a hospitality box.

A man in there catches the ball and then gives it to a little lad there, who is not interested in taking it, so the man then sheepishly throws it back to Victor Valdes.

Cringe.

Palace Christian Benteke has been a nightmare for the Boro defenders in the air today.

He has now had three efforts with his head, but failed to hit the target on two occasion. The other time it was an easy say for Victor Valdes.

At the opposite end, 'The Beast' Alvaro Negredo gets up the ball too much and strikes a shot over the crossbar.

Image source, Reuters

Palace are looking to put this game to bed before half time and nearly get a quick-fire second, but Jason Puncheon's thumping drive is straight at Victor Valdes, who bats the ball away.

That is why you pay £14m to sign a left-back.

Sam Allardyce knows.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

This time there is a card and it goes to Crystal Palace midfielder Yohan Cabaye.

The Frenchman cuts across Cristhian Stuani, who was breaking clear from the halfway line.

Cabaye says it was accidental but Robert Madley does not care and brandishes the yellow from his pocket.

Image source, PA