MX23RW : Tuesday, March 19 07:09:51| >> :120:31750:31750:

Preview: Crystal Palace vs. Burnley

Sports Mole previews Saturday's clash between the Premier League's bottom two, Crystal Palace and Burnley, as the relegation favourites meet at Selhurst Park.

The two favourites for Premier League relegation meet on Saturday when Crystal Palace host Burnley, with both sides already in ominous positions in the table.

The Clarets have been backed by bookmakers for an immediate return to the Championship, while Palace's odds for the drop plummeted following the departure of Tony Pulis on the eve of the season.

Neil Warnock collected a point from a trip to Newcastle United in his first game back in charge of the Eagles, and returns to Selhurst Park this weekend for the first time since leaving the club in 2010.

Another returning favourite, Wilfried Zaha, came off the bench to snatch the Londoners a stoppage-time 3-3 draw on Tyneside, and the Manchester United loanee should be promoted to the starting XI.

Burnley too got off the mark for the season a fortnight ago as they held winless Manchester United to a goalless draw. Sean Dyche and company may be thankful that fixture did not fall a week later.

Finding the net could be a problem for the Lancashire outfit, who have gone 340 minutes without scoring in all competitions. Sam Vokes is still sidelined and last season's leading marksman Danny Ings is yet to open his Premier League account from three games.

Dyche may be hoping that the £2.5m club-record addition of George Boyd on transfer deadline day will provide his side with a greater goal threat, and the creativity from which Ings can start firing again.

The former Hull City attacker should make his Clarets bow in the capital, but Burnley's success has been built upon stability and therefore Dyche is unlikely to panic into making many more changes.

Boyd's fellow new arrivals, Nathaniel Chalobah and Michael Keane, who have joined on loan from Chelsea and United respectively, may have to be content with being named among the substitutes.

Ben Mee could get another chance to prove that he can make the step up to the top flight at left-back, leaving his more experienced teammates Stephen Ward and Stephen Reid waiting for full debuts.

The free capture of Brede Hangeland seemed to be a coup for Palace in the summer, but Warnock restored Adrian Mariappa to the centre of his defence at the expense of the Norwegian at St James' Park.

Mariappa may again get the nod alongside Scott Dann in a defence which could be better balanced by new boy Zeki Fryers at left-back, and better protected by £7m midfield debutant James McArthur.

Joel Ward has been deputising at full-back and in midfield so far this term, and the versatile 24-year-old could be ruthlessly dropped if Warnock decides to accommodate two of his deadline-day signings.

The well-travelled manager also has Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Kevin Doyle in reserve, and the Irishman will probably be named on the bench, with Zaha playing a supporting role to Dwight Gayle. Marouane Chamakh and Joe Ledley are both injured for the hosts.

Recent form

Palace: DWLL

Burnley: DLLL

Possible starting lineups

Palace: Speroni; Kelly, Dann, Mariappa, Fryers; Bolasie, Jedinak, McArthur, Puncheon; Zaha, Gayle

Burnley: Heaton; Trippier, Shackell, Duff, Mee; Arfield, Jones, Marney, Taylor; Boyd, Ings

Sports Mole says: 2-2


ID:176184: cacheID:176184:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8326:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Burnley boss Sean Dyche, photographed on August 24, 2013
Read Next:
Video: Burnley transfer review
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014

Subscribe to our newsletter


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!