Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of Saturday's Premier League clash between Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough.

With just three points separating these two sides near the bottom of the table, this fixture is a relegation six-pointer if ever there was one.

Palace currently sit in the bottom three, in 19th place to be precise, having won just two league games out of their last 19, and they are only above Sunderland - who beat them 4-0 in their last home game - on goal difference.

Boro have not been having a great time of things either, having won just four of their 25 league matches and scored just three goals in their last eight league games. This puts them 16th in the table, and with just seven points separating 14th from 20th, it's all to play for, particularly in games like this.

Now let's have a look at the team news from today's game at Selhurst Park.

PALACE STARTING XI: Hennessey, Ward, Tomkins, Sakho, Van Aanholt, Milivojevic, Townsend, Cabaye, Puncheon, Zaha, Benteke

BORO STARTING XI: Valdes, Bernardo, Ayala, Gibson, Da Silva, Forshaw, de Roon, Stuani, Ramirez, Downing, Negredo

PALACE SUBS: Speroni, Dann, Campbell, McArthur, KaiKai, Delaney, Schlupp

BORO SUBS: Leadbitter, Clayton, Guzan, Fry, Guedioura, Gestede, Traore

Palace boss Sam Allardyce has made two changes to the starting XI that lost 1-0 at Stoke City in their last league fixture, as Mamadou Sakho gets his first start since arriving at Selhurst Park on Deadline Day.

Yohan Cabaye also comes back into the Eagles' starting XI, with Damien Delaney and James McArthur dropping to the bench. Scott Dann, who is struggling with a calf injury, also features as a substitute, alongside young striker Sullay KaiKai, who would only be making his second Premier League appearance should he feature today.

Aitor Karanka, meanwhile, has made three changes from the Boro side that drew 0-0 with Everton in their Premier League outing.

Daniel Ayala, Gaston Ramirez and Stewart Downing are picked from the off, while Adam Clayton, Adama Traore and Calum Chambers drop out. The latter is carrying a stress fracture and misses the game, while the previous two make the bench.

Both managers were in fighting mood in their respective press conferences ahead of this fixture. Sam Allardyce said: "We're in a fight, a scrap. We've got to be uglier than we have been. I've not managed to sort this club out as quick as I have the others, that's the frustration for me. We must start getting results at home. The big downside of the last 14 months is the home form. We need to get some wins, starting [against Middlesbrough]."

This is Aitor Karanka's take on the fixture: "I don't want to put pressure on the players. I can't be here every day telling them how important, how massive this game is because they know. Everybody knows. The people who come here to watch our training sessions to do interviews, everyone says the atmosphere here is really good and you don't realise you are watching a session of a team in the relegation battle. We are in good position, we are in the FA Cup quarter-finals. If someone told us three years ago we were going to be living this moment, I don't think a lot of people would think we would be in this position now."

These two sides faced off back in September, with Wilfried Zaha scoring the winning goal in a 2-1 victory for Palace at the Riverside Stadium.

Today, the Eagles have the chance to record a league double against Boro for the first time since the inaugural Premier League season in 1992-93.

The last Premier League game between these two at Selhurst Park took place in April 2005, and it resulted in a 1-0 win for Boro thanks to Franck Queudrue's strike.

None of the last 15 league meetings between these sides at Selhurst Park have ended in a draw, with Palace winning 10 of these.

Sam Allardyce has famously never been relegated from the top flight, but this record is currently under threat - he has won just one of his first eight league games as Palace manager, his worst start at a club since Notts County when he failed to win any of his first 15.

In addition, Allardyce is winless in his last nine Premier League games against Middlesbrough, with his last top-flight victory against them coming in 2003 whilst manager of Bolton Wanderers.

Palace could equal an unwanted club record by losing six consecutive home league games should they succumb to defeat against Boro today, but the visitors have found wins hard to come by too - they have failed to win in their last eight league games.

Boro are hard to break down on the road though - they have conceded just 13 Premier League goals away from home this season, with only Chelsea and Manchester United, with 11 goals conceded, boasting better records.

SCORE PREDICTION: Ten minutes to go until kickoff, so it's time for me to have a go at predicting the result. On paper, it has "goalless draw" written all over it. That would be too easy, mind. It is hard to call, but I reckon Palace will come good and edge this encounter, either 1-0 or 2-1.

Indeed, five of the last seven fixtures between these two have been settled by a single goal, and with both sides evenly matched and struggling at the bottom of the table, I can imagine it will be a conservative game with an emphasis on not losing. I'm not expecting a goal fest, but you never know - football's a funny old game.

Final thoughts from the managers, starting with Allardyce: "We have been concentrating on team play and fitness in training and have worked on today's game plan. Responsibility of the players is to give of their best and give fans something to cheer and deliver what we have been working on."

And Karanka: "It's a big game because it's a direct opponent. One thing is clear is that we are treating this game as a final. We are competing really well, and played really good against Everton last time, and the team is improving and confident."

Both sets of players have emerged from the Selhurst Park tunnel.

Captains Jason Puncheon and Ben Gibson have led out their respective sides, while Bobby Madley is the referee this afternoon.

KICKOFF! Palace get the game underway.

The hosts get the first sniff of goal as Zaha gets into space and flashes a ball across the Boro penalty area, but it's too high for Benteke and it runs wide.

Ward tries to connect with a Zaha through-ball, but Downing is ahead of him and the two tussle before the ref stops play after judging the Palace defender to have committed a foul.

PENALTY SHOUT! Zaha weaves his way towards the box from the left and tries to loft a cross into danger but Ayala appears to nudge him to the ground just as he reaches the base line - nothing given by referee Madley though.

Townsend swings a cross into the box but it's far too close to Valdes, who smothers the ball, while at the other end Boro win a free kick as Cabaye clips the legs of Forshaw following a sloppy pass.

More attacking intent from Palace as Townsend gets the better of Downing on the right before whipping a low cross into the path of Cabaye, who tries to nudge the ball on towards Benteke before the Boro defence manage to hack away.

CHANCE! Fabio and Ayala link up well on the right-hand side before the former breaks forward and sends a cross the way of Stuani, but the Uruguayan cannot get the ball under his control, and De Roon claims but blazes over the bar.

CHANCE! First effort on target goes the way of Palace as Van Aanholt marauds forward and sends a cross to the head of Benteke, but the forward's thumping effort is central and claimed by Valdes.

PENALTY SHOUTS! Two in quick succession as Benteke goes down in the box under pressure from Bernardo, but nothing is given, before the same happens to Zaha a minute later after a tussle with Forshaw. Nothing given for either call.

Palace break away on the counter after a Boro free-kick as Zaha charges forward before playing in Benteke, who attempts to send a cross back towards Zaha but hits the side netting as the offside flag goes up.

CHANCE! Benteke gets another opportunity to open the scoring but ends up heading over from eight yards out after latching on to Ward's cross.

CHANCE! Benteke is causing all sorts of problems for the visitors as he comes close once again, collecting a Ward pass with his back to goal, turning and rifling a powerful effort which forces Valdes into a terrific save, but the flag had gone up for handball.

PENALTY SHOUT! One for Boro this time as Downing sends a lofted cross into the box which is headed into the path of Negredo, who in turn goes down under pressure from Sakho, but again Madley gives nothing.

A goalmouth scramble ensures as Cabaye whips a corner into the Boro box and Puncheon eventually forces a shot towards goal which is blocked before being hacked away by the away side.

BOOKING: Cabaye is shown a yellow card after clipping Stuani.

A sniff of goal for Townsend as he finds space in the centre of the Boro box, but he can't control a pass from Zaha and Valdes can claim with ease.

The deadlock is broken by Palace as Cabaye finds himself in space on the edge of the box and takes aim, his shot gets blocked by Bernardo but Van Aanholt reacts quickest to reclaim the ball and curl a shot into the bottom corner.

CHANCE! Almost another from the hosts as Townsend cuts in from the right and forces a save from Valdes before the ball drops to Benteke, who can only head over from five yards out.

Cabaye picks Benteke out with a smart cross into the box but the former Liverpool man yet again heads over the bar.

Negredo tries his luck for Boro with a speculative half-volley from about 30 yards out, but it sails over the bar.

CHANCE! A Ward cross finds Puncheon just outside the box and he has a go with a volley, but it clears the bar.

Just the one minute of added time at the end of the first half.

So far so good for Palace, who have dominated proceedings on the pitch against Boro and have the lead, thanks to Patrick van Aanholt's 34th-minute goal.

Boro have enjoyed a couple of bright spells but on the whole they have failed to threaten Wayne Hennessey in the Palace goal, so Aitor Karanka will have some thinking to do at the break in terms of making his team more incisive in the final third.

Boro have scored just 19 goals in 25 Premier League games, so it does not exactly look promising for a team which is impressive enough at the back but is failing to produce the goods up front. Will things continue as they are in the second half or will the visitors step it up and get a goal back?

Palace have had nine shots in total, three of which were on goal, completed 152 passes with 76 percent accuracy, enjoyed 51 percent possession, and won two corners. In comparison, Boro have had just two shots, neither of which were on target, and won just one corner, although they've completed one more pass, the accuracy is the same as that of Palace, and their possession was 49 percent.

These stats pretty much sum up the first half - both teams are evenly matched on the whole, but one has been much better in attack, and the scoreline reflects this. A lot can change in one half of football though, so stick with Sports Mole and we'll keep you up to date with all the game's developments.

KICKOFF: Boro get the second half underway at Selhurst Park. One substitution made as Alvaro Negredo comes off and Rudy Gestede comes on for the visitors.

Palace picking up from where they left off as Puncheon flashes a dangerous ball from the left flank across the six-yard area which Bernardo has to hack away.

Cabaye wins the Eagles a free kick high up the pitch on the right touchline, but Boro manage to clear with relative ease.

Forshaw is in space about 25 yards out and he decides to have a go from distance, but his shot is harmless as it flies way above the bar, much to the amusement of the home fans.

Boro are showing much more in the way of attack as Stuani tries to find space in the box, though he is unable to get hold of the ball, before Gibson makes a run and goes up against Van Aanholt in the box, although Palace win a goal kick.

CHANCE! Van Aanholt clatters into Forshaw to gift Boro a free kick in a good position, which Ramirez successfully curls over the wall, but the ball is claimed by Hennessey.

CHANCES! End-to-end stuff here at Selhurst Park as first De Roon finds Gestede on the left of the box, which results in an effort which Hennessey claims, and moments later Forshaw is dispossessed by Puncheon, allowing Zaha to race forward and have a go, but he blasts over the bar.

CHANCE! This is more like it from Boro! The visitors take a quick throw-in which is worked to Forshaw, who heads into the path of Stuani, but the latter's half-volley is pushed away by Hennessey, a busy man at the moment.

Zaha muscles past Fabio before getting the better of Ayala and ultimately finding Benteke, who tries a one-two with the winger but overhits his pass and Valdes claims.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Another change for Boro as Adam Forshaw comes off, with former Palace man Adlene Guedioura entering the fray. The Eagles also make their first switch with Yohan Cabaye replaced by James McArthur.

Zaha impressing once again as he slaloms past three Boro players before playing the ball to McArthur, but the sub can't get his shot away as Gibson steps in and shepherds the ball back to Valdes.

Fresh from a good piece of defending, Gibson now marauds forward and tries a shot from range with Gestede lurking in the Palace box, but Hennessey is ahead of him to collect.

PENALTY SHOUT! We haven't had one of these for a while but here comes another one as Ramirez flicks a header back across goal to Stuani, who tries his luck with a shot and appears to strike the arm of Tomkins as he turns away. Nothing given by Madley.

Palace win a free kick in a great position, just on the left-hand side of the Boro box, but Townsend's attempt is cleared with ease.

A half-chance for Boro as Ayala bursts forward and finds sub Guedioura, whose subsequent effort is a low daisy-cutter which is easily claimed by Hennessey.

At the other end Palace win another free kick and Townsend delivers once again, but the visitors read it well for a second time and hack it clear.

BOOKING: Fabio clatters into Zaha and is shown a yellow card for his troubles.

BOOKING: McArthur edges into the Boro box and is brought down under pressure from Downing, but rather than awarding a penalty, Madley shows the Palace man a yellow card for simulation.

CHANCE! Downing brings down Townsend on the right-hand side, resulting in a Palace free kick in a good position, the 25-year-old whips the ball towards Benteke, but the forward cannot sort his feet and drills wide.

SUBSTITUTION: Final roll of the dice for Karanka as Cristhian Stuani departs and Adama Traore comes on in his place.

PENALTY CALL! And another one! That's got to be the fifth or sixth in this game alone... Zaha goes down in the Boro box as Downing puts him under pressure, but Madley opts to play on.

BOOKING: Ward is shown a yellow for a foul on Gestede on the halfway line.

We have a break in play as Van Aanholt goes to ground and is given treatment.

Boro push forward in search of a goal as Fabio charges into the Palace box and has a go, but his left-footed effort is high and wide.

SUBSTITUTIONS: That's all the subs for the day used up as Palace make two changes, Jeff Schlupp and Scott Dann replacing Patrick van Aanholt and Wilfried Zaha.

The fourth official has signalled five minutes of added time.

CHANCE! Townsend picks up an inch-perfect pass inside the box but instead of passing to Benteke, he goes for goal himself and fires well over the bar.

Bobby Madley blows the final whistle and Crystal Palace have been good value for money in their 1-0 win over Middlesbrough today, which sees them move out of the relegation zone for the time being, one place and level on points with the Teessiders.

That's all we have time for today at Selhurst Park but Sports Mole is on hand to bring you match reports, reaction and all the latest news from the day's football, so don't go anywhere! Thank you for following me and, until next time, goodbye!