Preview: Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa

Aston Villa came within three minutes of ending their eight-match winless run at Burnley on Saturday.

On his first Premier League start for the club, Joe Cole gave Villa the lead, but a late Danny Ings penalty left them still searching for a first win since September 13.

With the fixtures coming thick and fast this month, they have only three days to dust off that disappointment and try again when they visit Crystal Palace on Tuesday.

The Eagles have recovered from their own slump - four defeats in five games - to climb out of the drop zone and are above 16th-placed Villa in the table on goal difference.

Mile Jedinak's penalty earned them a hard-fought draw at Swansea City, and Palace are now back at Selhurst Park, where they proved too much for Liverpool last weekend.

With three fixtures in a week to contend with, home boss Neil Warnock may freshen things up with some changes to the lineup which started at the Liberty Stadium.

Dwight Gayle has joined central defensive duo Adrian Mariappa and Damien Delaney in the treatment room and therefore Frazier Campbell could be recalled to play in front of Marouane Chamakh in attack.

Club-record signing James McArthur and Manchester United loanee Wilfried Zaha are also in contention as Warnock considers resting Joe Ledley and Jason Puncheon ahead of the trip to Tottenham Hotspur.

Villa manager Paul Lambert does not have the luxury of rotating his squad quite so freely, with captain Ron Vlaar, Fabian Delph, Philippe Senderos, Nathan Baker and Libor Kozak all still nursing injuries.

Some much-needed better news for the Scot is that Christian Benteke is available again after suspension, and will be brought straight back in to partner either Andreas Weimann or Gabriel Agbonlahor in attack.

The Villans are the lowest scorers in the Premier League this term, having found the net just seven times in 13 games. Weimann has scored three and assisted two of these, so should get the nod ahead of the local lad.

Should fitness not be an issue, Cole is likely to retain his place at the tip of a midfield diamond after his impressive showing at Turf Moor, but Carlos Sanchez could be left out as he continues to adapt to the English game.

Palace have lost only two of 10 Premier League matches with Villa and won both of last season's games 1-0.

Palace:

Recent form: LDLLWD

Possible starting lineup: Speroni; Kelly, Dann, Hangeland, Ward; Zaha, Jedinak, McArthur, Bolasie; Chamakh, Campbell

Villa:

Recent form: LLLDDD

Possible starting lineup: Guzan; Hutton, Okore, Clark, Cissokho; Westwood, Cleverley, Richardson; Cole; Weimann, Benteke

Sports Mole says: 1-2