Bolton 0-0 Crystal Palace: Sam Allardyce still looking for first win as Eagles boss

Sam Allardyce is still looking for his first victory as Crystal Palace manager after his side came off second best in an FA Cup third round goalless draw at former club Bolton.

This was no warm welcome back for the ex-Trotters boss, who oversaw Bolton's best period in recent memory during a seven-and-a half-year spell, as Phil Parkinson's team did most of the running and created the majority of chances.

Allardyce's side continued their struggles in front of goal - they have scored just two in four matches since he took over from Alan Pardew.

With Christian Benteke injured and Wilfried Zaha at the Africa Cup of Nations, the Eagles boss gave a debut to on-loan Chelsea striker Loic Remy, who had not featured since April because of injury, and was one of seven changes from the Premier League defeat to Swansea.

Unsurprisingly, after nine months out the Frenchman lacked match sharpness, but once he got into a rhythm he created Palace's best openings, testing Ben Alnwick low down at either post while also hitting the base of the goalkeeper's left-hand upright.

Mathieu Flamini ballooned a chance over the crossbar on the half-hour mark as Palace could only muster up fleeting opportunities - Joe Ledley's second-half glancing header and substitute Yohan Cabaye's blocked volley apart - as Bolton had the better of the match.

Man-of-the-match James Henry twice forced saves out of Julian Speroni, setting a new Palace record of 389 appearances for a goalkeeper, before he and Gary Madine wasted free headers and Josh Vela's volley was blocked by Damien Delaney.

In the second half Henry twice went close, once from close range and then from distance.

Vela headed against a post while Madine had a penalty claim waved away, as Palace did just enough to take the tie back to Selhurst Park.