Palace turned on the style in a sensational second half display against Sunderland last week to run out convincing winners.
Striker Glen Murray continued his hot streak of form with his sixth goal in as many games. Yannick Bolasie scored a memorable eleven minute hat-trick to seal all three points and certain Premier League safety for the Eagles.
DR Congo international winger Yannick Bolasie entered the Premier League history books with the sixth fastest hat-trick and became the first Palace player to achieve the feat.
Selhurst Park prepares to welcome back a familiar face in Tony Pulis as he brings his struggling West Bromwich Albion side to SE25. It will be is first return to South London since his departure in August last year, just two days before the opening game of the season. Though the reasons are still not clear on his exit, the Welshman must be prepared for a frosty reception, despite the work he did for the club.
Another player who will not relish playing on Saturday is defender Craig Dawson. He became extremely unpopular with Palace fans after what appeared to be a deliberate elbow to the face of Julian Speroni that went unpunished in the 2-2 draw at the Hawthorns early in the season.
Team News
Crystal Palace
The return of Marouane Chamakh (hamstring) has still not clear so is expected to miss this one. Midfielder Jordon Mutch (thigh) may return to the squad but is likely to face a late fitness test. Fellow midfielder Lee Chung Yong (foot) and striker Frazier Campbell (hamstring) are both still sidelined. Defender Papa Souare will be assessed after picking up a knock in the win at Sunderland.
West Brom
The only injury concern is first choice goalkeeper Ben Foster. The England international suffered knee ligament damage a few weeks ago and will miss the rest of the season.
One To Watch
Saido Berahino (England)
There has been plenty of talk and speculation surrounding the young England striker. A call up to the senior England squad was justified, however, he has not scored in four games. One of his eighteen goals so far this season was the equaliser in the reverse fixture back in October. He has bags of pace and will be a constant threat if he is in the mood so the Palace back line will need to be very wary.
Form Guide
West Brom have conceded ten goals and scored just three in their last four games so you have to believe there are goals in this one. Palace on the flip side have scored eleven and only conceded four, a goal a game, so the Eagles will go into this as favourites.
The visitors are fourteenth in the table, seven points above the relegation zone and nine points behind Palace who can go as high as ninth with a win on Saturday. Palace are the form team with five wins and a loss in the last six compared with the Baggies two wins and four losses. They are currently on a three game losing streak.
In the last six meetings between the two sides Palace have the upper hand with three wins. Only two of the six games were at Selhurst, a 3-1 win last season and a 1-1 draw in April 2010 in which Neil Danns saw red.
Predictions
It has been far from easy for Tony Pulis since he joined the Albion as boss. Many expected him to have a similar impact to that at Palace last season but it has not quite materialised. In saying that, he has managed to get them up the table but they still have plenty of work to do to stay in the top division for another season. They will manage to do so but it is going to be a rough ride between now and the end of the season.
- EPL Index prediction – home win
- Sky Sports Pundit Paul Merson’s prediction – home win
- Who Scored prediction – home win
- My prediction – home win
- Bettings odds (courtesy of Paddy Power) – home 19/20 – draw 5/2 – away 14/5
