Crystal Palace v Watford
Date: 12/01/2018
K/O: 15.00pm
Venue: Selhurst Park
Referee: Paul Tierney
Palace bounced back from the defeat to Chelsea by getting an impressive 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, seeing in the New Year with the best possible start. They remain in 14th place, still four points adrift of rivals Brighton, but more importantly they are now six points clear of 18th placed Southampton.
The goal scoring form of Swansea loanee Jordan Ayew has been a welcome surprise, grabbing winning goals in both games against Wolves and in the FA Cup against Grimsby Town, to help with Palace’s problem of getting goals at the right end.
Their inability to convert their multiple chances has been clear to see, although the defence has been one of the best in Europe in terms of clean sheets, ranked joint 4th out of Europe’s top five leagues (higher than Juventus and Barcelona), but lie in joint 66th (with Fulham and Cardiff) in terms of goals.
After an excellent start to the season, with an early spell in the top four, Watford are still holding their own. They currently find themselves in 8th place, only two points off Leicester in the race to be classed as ‘best of the rest’.
However, the Hornets are not in the best of form, without a win in their last three games. After surrendering the lead twice against Bournemouth, they did pick up a win in the FA Cup third round, away at National League South’s Woking FC, which they will hope can act as a turning point in their form.
Watford did come out as victors in the reverse fixture earlier this season, where the pantomime villain of Vicarage Road, Wilfried Zaha, scored a goal but it was not enough to overcome the two-goal lead the Hornets had thanks to Pereyra and Holebas.
If they did win on the weekend, then it would be the first time Watford have done the league double over their South London rivals since the 2001/02 Division 1 season.
Team News
Crystal Palace
Saturday could see the return to the first team squad of Christian Benteke, having finally joining up with his teammates for full training on the 4th January, after being out of action since the September international break.
It is likely that he won’t be rushed straight back into the starting eleven, with the form of Jordan Ayew and his two goals in two games providing ample enough cover until the Belgian is fully fit.
One player definitely ruled out through injury though is left-back Pape Souare, after he was withdrawn from the pitch during Palace’s FA Cup game on the weekend. Whilst the condition of his shoulder is still being assessed, Hodgson said that it was “not a minor injury”, so he could be out for a few weeks.
Also unavailable for selection are those who have left the team so far this window; Jonny Williams was sold to Charlton Athletic, whilst Jason Puncheon and Alexander Sørloth have been loaned out to Huddersfield Town and KAA Gent respectively.
Watford
There are no fresh injury concerns for Javi Gracia and his team, however there are a couple of players that could make a return to the squad if fitness tests go their way. Sebastian Prödl has been out for the last few weeks with a knee injury, and although he has been close to a return, the Austrian has yet to make an appearance.
Christian Kabasele has been out since colliding with the post during the Boxing Day clash with Chelsea, but he will be assessed ahead of the game with Crystal Palace, and does have a chance to make the squad, albeit a slim one. Andre Gray however, is still out, and there is no date currently scheduled for his return.
Predicted Starting XIs
Crystal Palace (4-3-3): Guaita; Wan-Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, van Aanholt; Kouyaté, Milivojević, McArthur; Townsend, Ayew, Zaha.
Watford (4-2-3-1): Foster; Femenía, Mariappa, Cathcart, Holebas; Sema, Doucouré, Capoue, Pereyra; Deulofeu, Deeney.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1 Watford 0
A continue of each side’s form as the home side struggle for goals, but their defence is strong enough to withstand the attack from the away end.
