Palace And Villa Square Up At Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace host Aston Villa tonight (2nd December, 20:00) with both teams knowing that a win will ease the pressure in their fights against relegation. Both Palace and Villa are two points from the drop zone, though the London club`s -4 goal difference sees them significantly better placed to battle against the trapdoor than the Midlands side`s -11.

After losing four of their last five games, tonight`s hosts are unbeaten in two after seeing off Liverpool in an unlikely 3-1 victory and drawing 1-1 away at Swansea.

Paul Lambert`s Villa are yet to turnaround their poor form though have begun to pick up points again after seven defeats in seven. Their last three results have been consecutive draws which means that the Villa Park outfit have failed to win in 10.

As a result of this inability to secure all three points, Palace are the 23/20 (william hill) favourites to secure the win in front of their home crowd. Villa are available at 31/10 (Betvictor, boylesports) whilst a fourth straight draw for the away team can be backed at 12/5 with most bookmakers.

There is a small smattering of hope for Villa in that star striker Christian Benteke returns after serving his suspension. The ban was awarded following the Belgian`s red card in his side`s 2-1 defeat at the hands of Tottenham at the beginning of the month.

Saying that, the centre-forward is yet to hit the back of the net this season following a long-term injury and this suspension. Having struck 10 times in 26 games last season, the 24-year-old is 11/5 with Betvictor to record his first of this campaign.

Villa will also have defender Ciaran Clark available to them despite seeing the centre-half suffer from blurred vision last time out. This will be a blessing for Lambert who has already got Nathan Baker, Philippe Senderos and Ron Vlaar sidelined.

Their Tottenham defeat was the last suffered by the West Midlands outfit who travelled to West Ham United days later to pick up a much needed point in a goalless draw.

Gabby Agbonlahor put his team ahead in their match against Southampton, only for Nathaniel Clyne to peg them back nine minutes from time. It was a similar story against Burnley with Joe Cole putting the visitors one to the good before Danny Ings converted a late penalty conceded by Jores Okore.

Six to one with Betvictor and william hill says that the match will end in a 1-1 draw, whilst it`s 21/20 (betfair) to back both teams to score.

Indeed, the home side have scored in all but one of their last four matches, their only goalless 90 minutes coming away at Old Trafford in a 1-0 defeat.

Prior to this slight loss, November began with a 3-1 humiliation at home to Sunderland, rejuvenated following their 8-0 thrashing against Southampton. The only Palace goal came from Wes Brown, who put the ball in the back of his own net to level after Steven Fletcher`s opener.

The Eagles bounced back from their successive defeats with their home victory over Liverpool. Rickie Lambert put the visitors ahead with the game only two minutes old before Dwight Gayle stabbed home an equaliser 15 minutes later. The match remained tied until Joe Ledley saw the Selhurst Park outfit take the lead and Mile Jedinak double the advantage with nine minutes to go.

Jedinak was again on the scoresheet, levelling up with a penalty in the first half after Wilfried Bony hit within the first quarter of an hour. Having scored in the last two matches, the Australian midfielder general is 6/1 (betfred, Betvictor, Totesport) to hit the back of the net at any time tonight.

Go To bet365

#Ad

02/12/2014     © Frixo 2024