Following the debacle at Selhurst Park last weekend, Palace head to take on Stoke City at the Bet365 stadium.
This is the fixture that arguably set the club on the terrible run of form after a terrific late winner from South Korean Chung-yong Lee. The ecstasy of the win was soon soured with the news that Yannick Bolasie would miss several weeks due to injury but no-one could predicted the horrendous run of form that would follow which finally saw an end to Alan Pardew’s tenure at Selhurst Park.
With that being said, the Eagles form against the Potters is second to none having won five in a row heading into this game which is something for fans to clinging onto.
Sam Allardyce will certainly be hoping for a big reaction from the players who left the pitch last weekend to a chorus of boos of displeasure. Even though the Eagles’ form away from South London is good, Mark Hughes’ side will be a tough proposition but they have been very unpredictable so far this season.
TEAM NEWS
CRYSTAL PALACE – Yohan Cabaye (ankle), Scott Dann (muscle), Bakary Sako (hamstring) and Jeffrey Schlupp (hamstring) are doubts while Connor Wickham (knee), Steve Mandanda (knee), Jonathan Benteke (knee) and Pape Souare continue to miss out.
STOKE CITY – Glen Johnson (achilles), Xherdan Shaqiri (calf) and Jon Walters (knee) are all doubts while Geoff Cameron (knee), Jack Butland (ankle) and Stephen Ireland (leg) all miss out.
ACTION REPLAY
The last time the two sides met was at Selhurst Park in September where Palace kept up their incredible winning streak against Stoke. James Tomkins opened the scoring early to get the Eagles on their way and Scott Dann doubled the lead minutes later. James McArthur scored the third with less than twenty minutes to go before Andros Townsend scored from distance to complete the rout. Austrian Marko Arnoutovic scored a late consolation for the visitors.
Who Scored man of the match – Andros Townsend (9.0)
FORM GUIDE
Last FIVE meetings between the two sides;
- 18/09/2016: Crystal Palace 4-1 Stoke City
- 07/05/2016: Crystal Palace 2-1 Stoke City
- 30/01/2016: Crystal Palace 1-0 Stoke City
- 19/12/2015: Stoke City 1-2 Crystal Palace
- 21/03/2015: Stoke City 1-2 Crystal Palace
Last FIVE results for Palace;
- 04/02/2017: Crystal Palace 0-4 Sunderland
- 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
Last FIVE results for Stoke City;
- 04/02/2017: West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Stoke City
- 01/02/2017: Stoke City 1-1 Everton
- 21/01/2017: Stoke City 1-1 Manchester United
- 14/01/2017; Sunderland 1-3 Stoke City
- 07/01/2017: Stoke City 0-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers
FORM PLAYERS (courtesy of Who Scored)
Top two rated players from each team so far this season;
- Wilfried Zaha 7.47
- Christian Benteke 7.32
- Joe Allen 7.12
- Erik Pieters 7.05
PODCAST
Listen to my chat with Ian Wright and Shaun Custis looking ahead to the game with Stoke.
ONE TO WATCH
ERIK PIETERS
The Dutch left back has gone about his business quietly but effectively this season in a side that has become more about the attacking talents rather than the important defensive duties. Born in Tiel, Gelderland, the 28 year old defender began his youth career at VV Rhelico before moving to Utrecht in 2004 which is where he made his professional debut. PSV Eindhoven signed him in July 2008 for 2.5million Euros and went on to make almost a century of appearances. A move to Stoke took place in June 2013 in a deal with around £3million as Pieters signed a four year contract. To date he has made over a hundred appearances. He has represented the Netherlands at youth level on several occasions before winning his first of eighteen full international caps in 2010.
PREDICTION
Final league position – 10th
Former Barcelona striker Mark Hughes has built himself a talented squad of players at Stoke. He has looked to break the mold of previous managers that perhaps gave them a one dimensional appeal to anyone outside of the Potteries. Even though the club have allowed Bojan leave on loan to the Bundesliga, there is enough about this side to push for a top ten finish if they can overcome their inconsistent results.
- TEB prediction – draw
- Wizards Of Drivel prediction (see link below) – away win
- Who Scored prediction – home win
BETTING ODDS (courtesy of Paddy Power)
- Home – 21/20
- Draw – 23/10
- Away – 14/5
- Both teams to score – 5/6
FIND OUT WHAT THE GUYS FROM POPULAR STOKE CITY PODCAST ‘THE WIZARDS OF DRIVEL’ TOLD TEB THIS WEEK
