Crucial Game for Palace and Fulham in Bottom Half
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There is an interesting battle developing at the bottom of the Premier League table and two teams involved meet at Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon as Crystal Palace host Fulham.
Crystal Palace are in the better position of the two teams and begin the weekend sitting in 15th place with 23 points. They are above Southampton and Burnley on goal difference but with those two teams playing each other, this represents a good chance.
Fulham are in 19th place and firmly fixed in a relegation battle this season. A win could potentially move them above Cardiff City and one step closer to safety.
Crystal Palace picked up a point in their mid-week trip to Southampton. The Eagles opened the scoring to lead 1-0 but could not hang on to their advantage and Southampton equalised to take a point.
Crystal Palace have been inconsistent this season and having lost at home to Watford and away at Liverpool in the Premier League, they defeated Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup. Home form in the Premier League has been poor and Crystal Palace have won only two of their last eleven matches. They have failed to win in their last three, drawing with Cardiff City and losing to Chelsea and Watford.
However, Crystal Palace have kept a clean sheet in five of their last seven home competitive games but have failed to score a goal in two of their last three home Premier League matches.
Fulham were delighted to come back from 2-0 down to defeat Brighton and Hove Albion 4-2 on Tuesday night. It could be the lift they need going into the final third of the season and Fulham showed great spirit to come back and win the match.
That was their first win in five games and prior to the victory Fulham were on a run of four straight defeats, losing to Arsenal, Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League plus Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup.
Trends show Fulham have won just three of their last twenty games in all competitions and nine of their last ten away matches in the Premier League. They have seen over 2.5 goals scored in each of their last five games in all competitions and have conceded 2 or more goals in ten of their last twelve away Premier League matches.
Looking ahead to the team news and Crystal Palace will be without Wilfried Zaha who was sent off at Southampton and that is a big blow for the hosts. There are doubts over Cheikhou Kouyaté and James Tomkins with Max Meyer and Scott Dann ready to step in if required.
Fulham are still without the injured defender Alfie Mawson plus there are doubts over Joe Bryan and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa. Claudio Ranieri may opt to go with a 4-2-3-1 formation from the start.
The loss of Zaha means Crystal Palace will lose some of their attacking threat but Fulham’s away record is poor and the home team should have enough to win this game with both teams scoring.
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