The Eagles responded well following defeat at home to Chelsea with an excellent cup win on the South Coast at the weekend.
In their second away trip of the week, Palace travel to Birmingham to take on a struggling Aston Villa side who avoided a cup shock at Wycombe Wanderers who they will face in a replay.
The visitors will fancy their chances against the bottom side in the Premier League especially away from home which favours the style and personnel at Alan Pardew’s disposal. However, there has to be some caution as the poor form that Villa are currently experiencing has to change at some stage even if they do not manage to stay in the division come May.
It is clear that the striker department is an area where boss Pardew is looking to recruit for by the time January is out, he has said as much himself. Before the win at Southampton, Palace had not scored for three games with the last in the away win at Stoke City. That was the last game Connor Wickham played, scoring his first goal for the club from the spot before leaving the field due to injury.
Wickham is expected to return for the game but whether he is fit enough to start remains to be seen. While Frazier Campbell has put in some good shifts up front in the absence of Wickham, the side look so much better with the former Ipswich Town man playing the lone striker role and he will be welcomed back with open arms.
Team News
Crystal Palace – Connor Wickham is expected to return from injury and likely to play some part. Yannick Bolasie (thigh) and Dwight Gayle (hamstring) are both likely to miss out while there is a concern over Yohan Cabaye after receiving a knock in the cup win at Southampton.
Aston Villa – The hosts have concerns over Micah Richards (foot), Jack Grealish (tonsillitis) and Gabriel Agbonlahor (back) but the latter two have been out of favour. Alan Hutton (hamstring), Adama Traore (foot) and Carlos Sanchez (hamstring) are all expected to miss out while Jordan Amavi (knee) is out for the season.
Action Replay
The two sides last met in August 2015 at Selhurst Park which Palace ran out 2-1 winners. The Eagles took the lead through Scott Dann only for Pape Souare to put into his own net to level things up. Bakary Sako scored the winner for the hosts in the dying minutes of the game.
The last meeting at Villa Park was a dour goalless draw on the first day of 2015 which should really have been a win for the Eagles as Yannick Bolasie broke through the Villa defence and looked destined to score but his effort hit the crossbar.
Form Guide
It is no surprise that Palace have the better form in the last six games with two wins, three draws and a loss in the Premier League. Villa have managed three draws and three losses.
The last six games between the two is edged by the Eagles with three wins to Villa’s two and one draw. In games at Villa Park, there have been three in the last six with Palace and Villa winning one each and one draw.
The form players ahead of this one are Yohan Cabaye (7.39) and Micah Richards (7.14).
One To Watch
Jordon Ayew – Who Scored rating 6.82
A shining light in what has turned out to be an awful season for the Villains. The Ghana international joined in the summer and is the younger brother of Swansea City striker Andre. If the hosts are to get anything from this game then they need Ayew to continue his good recent form.
The French born striker came through the ranks at Lyon before joining Marseille. He graduated from their youth academy in 2009 and made over 100 appearances before moving to Lorient after a loan spell at Sochaux. The twenty four year old has been capped by Ghana 31 times and scored 11 goals.
Predictions
Final league position – 20th
It is difficult to imagine anything other than a bottom placed finish for Villa after a terrible first half of the season. The approach to the January transfer window may be one to start re-building for a future in the Championship. New boss Remy Garde is still looking for his first win of the season so they really have nothing to lose between now and the final Premier League game in May.
- TEB prediction – away win
- Stevie Green’s prediction (see link below) – away win
- Who Scored prediction – away win
Betting Odds (courtesy of Paddy Power)
- Home 2/1
- Draw 9/4
- Away 7/5
Find out what Villa fan Stevie Green told TEB this week in The Villa View.
