PETER Ramage is remaining positive about Crystal Palace’s automatic promotion chances, despite failing to pick up three points against strugglers Barnsley at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

The disappointing 0-0 draw increases the Eagles’ winless run to four games after successive losses against Blackpool, Birmingham and Brighton.

It was a frustrating match for the home side, where a lack of composure and ruthlessness in front of goal proved costly against a below par Barnsley team who were there for the taking.

However, Ramage refuses to believe things are as bad as they seem.

The centre back said: “A lot of people are doom and gloom at the minute, but we’re fourth in the league and six points from seventh.

“People have got to realise we lost our first four games of the season and were bottom of the league and now we’ve turned it around.

“It’s not all doom and gloom.

“Yeah, we haven’t won our last four games but today we didn’t play badly, we just didn’t get that rub of the green in front of goal.

“Obviously we’re disappointed we couldn’t get a win for the fans but personally we’re happy with the performance.”

Saturday’s result increases Palace’s league goal drought to almost a month, the last time they netted being March 9 when they drew 2-2 at home to Leeds.

An automatic promotion place is now looking like a tough challenge for Ian Holloway’s men, with both Watford and Hull, who lie in second and third place, picking up points at the weekend.

The Eagles boss claimed he had to calm down a frustrated dressing room before appearing for his post-match press conference, but former Newcastle defender Ramage played down the rift and said there is still fighting spirit in the team.

He explained: “I think it was just frustration we haven’t managed to take one of our chances, but it wasn’t frustration at the performance or any individual performances.

“I thought everyone played really well today, we just weren’t able to put the ball in the back of the net, which is the hardest thing in football.”

Ramage added: “Until someone says we can’t get second place, then there is not one person in that dressing room who isn’t going to strive for it.

“The frustration after the game didn’t boil over or anything like that, it was just a collective frustration we hadn’t won the game.

“We did everything but score.

“From a defensive point of view, I think everyone contributed to the clean sheet.

“We were a lot stronger.

“I can’t really remember Jules [Speroni] having to dirty his gloves and all that was a major positive today, just the result wasn’t there.”

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