Still without a win in six, Palace welcome Watford to Selhurst Park for the first time in a Premier League fixture.
The last time the two sides met a Yohan Cabaye penalty late on was enough to secure all three points for the Eagles in a live televised game.
The newly promoted Hornets have been somewhat of a suprise package so far this season as most were tipping the side managed by Quique Sanchez Flores to be in a relegation dogfight but it has been far from the case.
After experiencing more than their fair share of turmoil in terms of comings and goings in the past few seasons culminated in promotion to the top division, perhaps against most pundits selections. This season it has been relative plain sailing as they look to secure a second successive season in the Premier League.
Team News
Crystal Palace – Several key players remain out as Yannick Bolasie, Joe Ledley, Jason Puncheon and Bakary Sako are sidelined as is Scottish midfielder James McArthur who has an outside chance of returning before the end of the season. Connor Wickham returns from suspension while Dwight Gayle looks to pass a fitness test.
Watford – Joel Ekstrand is out with an knee injury in otherwise a fully fit squad to travel to SE25.
Action Replay
In a fairly tight contest the two teams meeting for the first time since the May 2013 at the Play Off Final once again starred the lively Wilfried Zaha who was fouled in the box as lightening well and truly struck twice. Yohan Cabaye converted from the spot just as Kevin Phillips on that day at Wembley. Watford fans are justified in being well and truly sick of the sight of Zaha.
Form Guide
Palace have only lost one of the last six meetings between the sides in all competitions having won four and drawn one. The last time Watford beat Palace was at Selhurst Park in August 2012 with the hosts surrendering a 2-1 lead after an Owen Garvan brace to go on and lose 3-2.
Current form in the Premier League is very similar with Palace only managing one point from a possible eighteen while Watford have managed four points.
Form Players (courtesy of Who Scored)
For Palace, Yohan Cabaye (7.31) still leads the way from Yannick Bolasie (7.18) and Scott Dann (7.12). For Watford Troy Denney (7.22) tops the list from Heurelho Gomes (7.21).
One To Watch
Odion Ighalo
The Nigerian striker started his career at Watford on loan from Udinese but signed a permanent deal in October 2014. The 26 year old has scored an impressive 35 goals in 54 appearances. He has 15 goals already this term and between him and strike partner Troy Denney have netted 21 times. The Lagos born striker began his career at Nigerian club Prime in 2000 and made his professional debut in 2005. He moved on to play for Julius Berger (Nigeria) and Lyn (Norway) before joining Italian side Udinese where he had loan spells at Granada and Cesena before arriving at Vicarage Road. He has appeared for Nigeria at youth level and has seven full international caps.
Predictions
Final league position – 12th
It has been a season that the most positive Hornets fan would have hoped for survival and build from there but it has been a pleasant surprise for all involved with the Hertfordshire club. With a little over ten games left to play, Watford look set to challenge for a top ten finish and a continued run in the FA Cup even though they are currently experiencing a difficult run of form. Regardless, they have done exceptionally well in a season that Bournemouth have stolen the headlines from the three newly promoted sides. Perhaps Watford deserve more credit for what they have achieved so far.
- TEB prediction – home win
- WatfordFCBlog prediction (see link below) – draw
- Who Scored prediction – draw
Betting Odds (courtesy of Paddy Power)
- Home 13/10
- Draw 11/5
- Away 23/10
Find our what the guys at WatfordFCBlog told TEB this week in ‘The Watford View’.
