The last game of the Premier League season is finally upon us as Palace take a second trip of the season to St Marys’ following their FA Cup third round success in January.
The Saints are chasing a spot in European competition for next season so will be keen to take all three points.
It is difficult to know what to expect from a Palace squad that is a week away from a date at Wembley with Manchester United. Already with a few injury concerns, Alan Pardew will have some tough decisions to make so this game may be one for some fringe players to stake a claim to be involved in the FA Cup final.
Regardless of the Eagles team that Pardew chooses to face Southampton, the hosts will not have it easy as the potential fringe players will be keen to impress.
Dutchman Ronald Koeman is all to aware that the Saints have to do their job of securing all three points before looking at other results but the South Coast club can be happy in the knowledge that it has been another impressive season for them.
Team News
Crystal Palace – Joe Ledley (broken leg) joins an injury list that already includes Kwesi Appiah (knee), Marouane Chamakh (groin) and Brede Hangeland (knock). Wilfried Zaha (hamstring) will also miss out while Mile Jedinak (knock) and Yohan Cabaye (chest) are doubts. Recalled youth player Sullay KaiKai is expected to play a part.
Southampton – Jordy Clasie (groin) misses out while Sadio Mane is a slight doubt because of illness. Otherwise, Koeman has a fully fit squad to choose from.
Action Replay
The last times these two sides met was at St Marys’ in the third round of the FA Cup, having already faced each other in the fourth round the previous season. Just like in January 2015, the Eagles found a way to beat the Saints and took the lead through former Portsmouth defender Joel Ward just before the half hour. The hosts pulled themselves level with an equaliser just after the break courtesy of Oriol Romeu but it was Wilfried Zaha who popped up to score the winner to see Palace safely through to the next round.
Form Guide
The last six games between the two sides;
- 9th January 2016: Southampton 1-2 Crystal Palace
- 12th December 2015: Crystal Palace 1-0 Southampton
- 3rd March 2015: Southampton 1-0 Crystal Palace
- 24th January 2015: Southampton 2-3 Crystal Palace
- 26th December 2014: Crystal palace 1-3 Southampton
- 8th March 2014: Crystal palace 0-1 Southampton
In the last six Premier League games Southampton are in great form with four wins and a draw while Palace have managed two ins and two draws.
Form Players (courtesy of Who Scored)
Virgil van Dijk (7.56), Cedric Souares (7.27), Yohan Cabaye (7.23), Yannick Bolasie (7.14), Sadio Mane (7.10)
The Managers
‘The logical side of my brain never thought we were in trouble. But the other side knows that we could have got sucked in to a relegation battle. Wilf will not be involved at Southampton, we will have to wait and see if he makes the cup final’ – Alan Pardew
‘We had a difficult time in January, but six wins out of the last eight makes it special and it will be even more special if we get the three points on Sunday. What happens anywhere else is not our problem, but we have to first do it by ourselves’ – Ronald Koeman
One To Watch
Virgil van Dijk
The Dutch centre back has impressed since his September 2015 move from Celtic in a five year deal worth £13 million. Earlier this month he signed a new six year deal at the club after clearly enjoying his time on the South Coast. There have been plenty of rave reviews for the centre back since arriving in the Premier League. The twenty-four year old who has just been awarded the Player of the Season at the club has represented the Netherlands on four occasions after playing at both under nineteen and under twenty-one level.
Born in Breda, van Dijk started his youth career with Willem II before moving on to Groningen in 2010. He made his professional debut in 2011 playing sixty-two times and scoring seven goals before a move to Celtic in 2013 for a fee of £2.6 million. At Celtic Park he made seventy-six appearances and scored nine goals.
Predictions
Final league position – 6th
After a slow start it has been another good season for the Saints and it could well end up with a place in European competition next season with so many permutations remaining. Boss Ronald Koeman remains much sought after both in England and in Europe so the South Coast club will be doing their upmost to keep the former Dutch defender at the club. However, with just a year remaining on his contract and no sign of him signing an extension, there could be some nerves around the boardroom as the summer progresses. There is previous as he wound down his contract at Feyenoord before moving to Southampton.
- TEB prediction – home win
- St Marys’ Musings prediction (see link below) – home win
- Who Scored prediction – home win
Betting Odds (courtesy of Paddy Power)
- Home – 4/11
- Draw – 15/4
- Away – 15/2
- Both teams to score – 5/6
Find our what the guys from St Marys’ Musings told TEB this week in The Southampton View.
