A much needed and well timed win on South Coast in midweek will no doubt provide the ultimate boost heading into this home match up with Sunderland.
The Black Cats themselves earned a credible draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur in the week and will travel to Selhurst Park knowing that the last two trips to South London earned them a win on each occasion.
Eagles fans would be forgiven for hoping that this game was being played in Sunderland as Palace have had much more luck by securing seven points from the last three trips to Wearside.
Sam Allardyce will be under no illusions heading into this relegation six pointer but will be looking to build on his first win as boss with a second in quick succession.
TEAM NEWS
CRYSTAL PALACE – Jeffrey Schlupp (hamstring) is doubtful while Connor Wickham (knee), Steve Mandanda (knee), Jonathan Benteke (knee) and Pape Souare (leg) all continue to miss out.
SUNDERLAND – Victor Anichebe (knee), Jordan Pickford (knee), Jan Kirchoff (knee), Duncan Whatmore (knee), Paddy McNair (knee) and Lee Cattermole (hip) will all be absent.
ACTION REPLAY
The two sides last met in September at the Stadium of Light in what turned out to be a quite eventful game. The hosts put themselves ahead just before the break through none other than Jermain Defoe. He scored his second, doubling Sunderland’s lead with half an hour left to play and all looked lost for the Eagles. Within a minute, Joe Ledley pulled one back and Palace we level through James McArthur with a little under quarter of an hour to go. Just as the points looked like being shared, up popped an un-marked Christian Benteke to score the winner.
Who Scored man of the match – Christian Benteke
FORM GUIDE
Last FIVE meetings between the two sides;
- 24/09/2016: Sunderland 2-3 Crystal Palace
- 01/03/2016: Sunderland 2-2 Crystal Palace
- 23/11/2015: Crystal Palace 0-1 Sunderland
- 11/04/2015: Sunderland 1-4 Crystal Palace
- 03/11/2014: Crystal Palace 1-3 Sunderland
Last FIVE results for Palace;
- 31/01/2017: Bournemouth 0-2 Crystal Palace
- 28/01/2017: Crystal Palace 0-3 Manchester City
- 21/01/2017: Crystal Palace 0-1 Everton
- 17/01/2017: Crystal Palace 2-1 Bolton Wanderers
- 14/01/2017: West Ham United 3-0 Crystal Palace
Last FIVE results for Sunderland;
- 31/01/2017: Sunderland 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur
- 21/01/2017: West Bromwich Albion 2-0 Sunderland
- 17/01/2017: Burnley 2-0 Sunderland
- 14/01/2017: Sunderland 1-3 Stoke City
- 07/01/2017: Sunderland 0-0 Burnley
FORM PLAYERS (courtesy of Who Scored)
Top two rated players from each team so far this season;
- Wilfried Zaha 7.52
- Christian Benteke 7.34
- Jordan Pickford 7.07
- Papy Djilobodji 7.02
ONE TO WATCH
JERMAIN DEFOE
Sunderland will be pleased to see the back of the transfer window and with the former England international still at the Stadium of Light. The 34 year old will be crucial in their battle to stay up as he is a player that will thrive on every opportunity, however small.
Defoe began his career at Charlton Athletic in 1997 before moving to West Ham United in 1999. He made almost 100 appearances for the Hammers in his time at Upton Park and scored 29 goals, which included a loan spell at Bournemouth. He moved to Spurs in 2004 and made over 130 appearances scoring 43. A loan spell at Portsmouth in 2008 was made permanent (30 appearances/ 14 goals) before he signed for Spurs once again in 2009 where he continued where he left scoring 47 goals in a similar amount or appearances as his first spell. The MLS came calling in 2014 and he jetted off to join Toronto before returning to White Hart Lane for a brief loan spell later in the same year. He signed for Sunderland in 2015 and has so far made over 70 appearances and scoring over 30 goals.
PREDICTION
Final league position – 20th
After several seasons flirting with the relegation zone, this could well be one too far. David Moyes has found it difficult to turn the tide although he was permitted to make a couple of signings in the transfer window even though it was clear there was not a huge amount of funds available to do so. Veteran striker Jermain Defoe cannot do it alone and needs the support if the Black Cats are going to extend their stay in the top division.
- TEB prediction – home win
- We Are Wearside prediction (see link below) – home win
- Who Scored prediction – home win
BETTING ODDS (courtesy of Paddy Power)
- Home – 8/13
- Draw – 3/1
- Away – 9/2
- Both teams to score – 4/5
FIND OUT WHAT THE GUYS FROM WE ARE WEARSIDE TOLD TEB THIS WEEK IN THE SUNDERLAND VIEW
