The Eagles will be buoyed by a good performance away at Fulham on Sunday where a late goal secured all three points from Craven Cottage once again.
That result was a perfect tonic heading into the trip to Dublin to take on Irish outfit Shelbourne in the penultimate fixture of the league phase of the Conference League.
There is a concern that many of the Palace players were flat out on the pitch as the final whistle was blown by the referee, but so much effort was put into such an exciting game which achieved another important three points.
Oliver Glasner spoke this week about an incredible team spirit that he witnesses day in day out at Palace which is credit to this group of players who have achieved so much, but can go on to achieve more.
In a week that has seen Tyrick Mitchell linked with a return to the England squad after an excellent display against Fulham, and the Eagles drawn against non-league Macclesfield Town in the third round of the FA Cup which begins their defence of the trophy, they travel to Ireland in good spirits and in good form.
This is a hugely important fixture for Palace, who currently sit in 18th place in the Conference League, which is a play off spot. With six points so far, Palace are just two points outside the top eight which is automatic qualification which would certainly help in terms of cutting down on games heading into 2026.
You could argue that Palace are faced with the two easier fixtures of the six in the final two games, which winning both would put the Eagles onto twelve points and potentially an automatic spot.
First things first, to focus on the game against a Shelbourne side who have yet to win a game in this competition this season and yet to score a goal. They currently sit 34th in the table with just a single point.
Palace head to Dublin sitting fourth in the Premier League which is an astounding feat and really laying down a marker on what the club could well achieve this season.
There is an element of trepidation having to face so many games in such a short space of time, but get through December and the fixture list should lighten up a little if they secure an automatic Conference League spot and even a League Cup semi final.
What a time to be a Palace fan.
Match Context
- Venue: Tallaght Stadium, Dublin
- Competition: UEFA Europa Conference League – Group Stage
- Current Standings:
- Crystal Palace: 6 points from 4 games (2W, 2L), sitting mid-table in the group.
- Shelbourne: 1 point from 4 games (0W, 1D, 3L), bottom of the group.
Form Guide
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Shelbourne:
- Winless in the group stage (3 losses, 1 draw).
- Failed to score in all four group matches so far.
- Recent home record: 1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss in all competitions, struggling for goals.
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Crystal Palace:
- Mixed European form: 2 wins, 2 losses in the group.
- Strong away record: clean sheets at Dynamo Kyiv and Fredrikstad, competitive even in defeat at Strasbourg.
- Recent overall form: 3 wins in last 5 matches, scoring 7 goals.
Tactical Overview
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Shelbourne:
- Likely to stick with a 5-3-2, focusing on deep blocks and quick counters.
- Defensive resilience is evident, but conversion rate is poor (averaging 11.5 shots per game but no goals in Europe).
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Crystal Palace:
- Oliver Glasner’s 3-4-2-1 system emphasizes wing-back width and controlled possession.
- Palace press aggressively and exploit wide overloads, which could stretch Shelbourne’s compact shape.
Key Players
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Shelbourne:
- John Martin – scored 2 of their last 5 goals in all competitions.
- Joey O’Brien (manager) will rely on set-pieces and transitions.
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Crystal Palace:
- Diachi Kamada – European experience vital to the visitors.
- Jean-Philippe Mateta and Yeremy Pino could also be influential in breaking down Shelbourne’s defense.
Predictions & Odds
- Crystal Palace are heavy favourites (odds around 1.16–1.20 for a win).
- Most analysts expect a controlled Palace win, likely with under 3.5 goals.
- Common score line predictions:
- Crystal Palace 2-0 or 3-0.
- Betting tips:
- Palace to win-to-nil.
- Over 2.5 goals is possible, but Shelbourne’s scoring drought suggests “Both Teams to Score – NO” is safer.
✅ Summary: Shelbourne will aim to frustrate Palace with a defensive setup, but their lack of attacking threat makes an upset unlikely. Expect Palace to dominate possession and eventually break through for a comfortable win.
