In the words of Andros Townsend, the win at City will not mean a lot unless it is followed up with a home victory over Cardiff.
Wise words indeed from the man that scored a stunner at the Etihad at the weekend which contributed to a terrific three points at the home of the reigning champions.
Palace head into this Boxing Day fixture with three wins in five after finding some form in recent weeks. The plaudits have been rightly given to Roy Hodgson and his team for taking all three points off the Champions but the underdogs become favourites which is not the most comfortable position for the side from Selhurst.
You have to think that Hodgson will not make any changes to the starting line-up unless enforced but this side has struggled to score goals, contrary to the nine over the last five games. A presence up front is still much needed for this side particularly when facing sides that come to South London to defend.
Neil Warnock brings his side from South Wales and may look to do just that. The former Palace manager will still be smarting from a big home defeat to Manchester United at the weekend and will be keen on taking at least a point back with them.
It will be interesting to see what kind of reception Warnock receives from the Palace faithful but TEB will be applauding the man who had two spells at the club.
TEAM NEWS (courtesy of Physio Room)
CRYSTAL PALACE – Cheikhou Koyate (muscle), Martin Kelly (groin) and Wayne Hennessey (back) are all slight doubts while Christian Benteke (knee) continues to miss out.
CARDIFF CITY – Joe Bennett (hip) is a slight doubt but Danny Ward (knee) and Jazz Richards (hamstring) and not expected to feature.
ACTION REPLAY
The last time the two sides met was over four years ago in South Wales when the visitors from South London ran out convincing winners. Jason Puncheon got the Eagles off and running with the opening goal just after the half hour mark. Welshman Joe Ledley doubled the lead with less than twenty minutes left to play and Puncheon grabbed his second and Palace’s third in the dying minutes to secure the points. It is interesting to note that the manager of Cardiff at the time was newly appointed United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Who Scored man of the match – Jason Puncheon (10)
FORM GUIDE
Last FIVE meetings between the two sides;
- 05/04/2014 Cardiff City 0-3 Crystal Palace
- 07/12/2013 Crystal Palace 2-0 Cardiff City
- 26/12/2012 Cardiff City 2-1 Crystal Palace
- 22/09/2012 Crystal Palace 3-2 Cardiff City
- 28/04/2012 Crystal Palace 1-2 Cardiff City
Last FIVE results for Palace;
- 22/12/2018 Manchester City 2-3 Crystal Palace
- 15/12/2018 Crystal Palace 1-0 Leicester City
- 08/12/2018 West Ham United 3-2 Crystal Palace
- 04/12/2018 Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 Crystal Palace
- 01/12/2018 Crystal Palace 2-0 Burnley
Last FIVE results for Cardiff;
- 22/12/2018 Cardiff City 1-5 Manchester United
- 15/12/2018 Watford 3-2 Cardiff City
- 08/12/2018 Cardiff City 1-0 Southampton
- 04/12/2018 West Ham United 3-1 Cardiff City
- 30/11/2018 Cardiff City 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
LISTEN TO MY CHAT WITH THE GUYS AT VIEW FROM THE NINIAN
THE RECORD AGAINST CARDIFF
- Played 67
- Won 32
- Drawn 19
- Lost 16
FORM PLAYERS (courtesy of Who Scored)
Top two rated players from each team so far this season;
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka 7.27
- Sol Bamba 7.25
- Luke Milivojevic 7.06
- Callum Paterson 7.05
ONE TO WATCH
SOULEYMANE BAMBA
Former clubs – Paris Saint Germain, Dunfermline Athletic, Hibernian, Leicester City, Trabzonspor, Palermo, Leeds United,
The 33 year old central defender has been around a bit since starting his career at PSG in 1996 but only made one first team appearance for the French club before signing for Dunfermline in 2006. A move to Hibs took place a couple of years later before Leicester came calling in 2011. After stints in Turkey and Italy, Bamba returned to England with Leeds United in 2015. He was awarded his first international cap in 2008 and has gone on to make over forty appearances for the Ivory Coast.
The big burley defender has had a solid season for Cardiff so far and will likely be key in this fixture with Palace’s recent struggles up front and to break down teams that come to Selhurst to defend.
PREDICTION
From being the underdog at the Etihad, the tables turn for this one as most will favour a Palace win which is not always a comfortable position for the Eagles to be in. Cardiff travel to South London off the back of a beating at the hands of United but they will be determined to take something from this game. Palace should have enough quality to take the three points and build on that superb win at the weekend but no game is easy. TEB are going for a narrow 2-1 win for the hosts.
- TEB prediction – home win
- Who Scored prediction – home win
BETTING ODDS (courtesy of Paddy Power)
- Home – 8/13
- Draw – 11/4
- Away – 4/1
- Both teams to score – 4/5
FIND OUT WHAT VIEW FROM THE NINIAN TOLD TEB IN OUR SUMMER FEATURE ‘VIEW FROM THE OPPOSITION’
