Alan Pardew’s side will be riding their wave of momentum north to Stoke, as they look to strengthen their position in the Barclays Premier League and close in on guaranteeing safety for another season in the top flight.
A fantastic victory over London rivals Queens Park Rangers saw Palace open an eleven point gap on the relegation places until Burnley beat Manchester City later on in the day to reduce it to eight points.
Stoke City provide the opposition for the Eagles on Saturday. Mark Hughes’ side are in good form and are perhaps looking at sneaking a European place as the season draws to a close. They currently occupy eighth place and are nine points ahead of Pardew’s men.
Team News
Stoke City – Former Eagle Victor Moses (groin) and Eric Pieters (pelvis) will face late fitness tests. John Walters (cheekbone) and Marco Muniesa (hamstring) are definitely sidelined alongside long term casualties Bojan Krckic and Peter Odemwengie (both knee).
Crystal Palace – Wilfried Zaha will be assessed after colliding with the goal post to score the first goal against QPR last weekend as will fellow midfielder Jason Puncheon who limped off early in the second half. Mile Jedinak (suspension) and Jordon Mutch (hip) will definitely miss this one however Marouane Chamakh may find a place on the bench as he recovers from his niggling hamstring injury.
Form Guide
Palace and Stoke are both in form sides having only lost two of their last five. However, Palace’s away form is to be admired having only lost once under Pardew. Both teams will be looking for maximum points to suit their own agendas so this should be an interesting clash.
In the last six between the two sides it is all square with two wins each and two draws. In the three games at Stoke, it has been two wins for the home side and one for Palace. The two sides drew 1-1 in November after James McArthur’s first goal for the Eagles was ruled out sixty seconds later by Peter Crouch.
One To Watch
Mame Biram Diouf (Senegal)
The Senegalese striker signed for Manchester United in 2009 but found his career hampered by a lack of first team football. Diouf joined Stoke City once his contract expired in 2012 and has played a key role in the teams success in the last few years. He has netted eight goals and has five assists so far this season and with the absence of top scorer Jonothan Walters, Diouf will look to impress as the season draws to a close.
Predictions
Stoke have perhaps surprised many this season by building on last season. Welshman Mark Hughes has done well with a limited budget and make a few shrewd signings. The loss of Bojan to a season ending injury was a major blow as he was really starting to look at home in the Premier League. Regardless, Stoke are well on course to finish in the top ten come the end of the season.
- EPL Index prediction – away win
- Sky Sports Pundit Paul Merson’s prediction – draw
- Who Scored prediction – home win
- My prediction – away win
- Paddy Power odds – home 6/5 – draw 23/10 – away 12/5
