Palace v Manchester United

Selhurst Park, Saturday 5.30pm

Jerome Thomas (Photo: Andy Roberts)

Story so far

Data supplied by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Select and manage your own team of stars at fantasy.premierleague.com or with FIFA Ultimate Team for FIFA 14.

Crystal Palace’s fixture against Everton was one of the games postponed in the last round of Premier League fixtures, due to atrocious weather conditions. An extra week’s rest may benefit Tony Pulis’ men, as they play host to the Champions. One player who the Eagles will be looking to provide a creative spark is winger Jason Puncheon, with the former Southampton man in a rich vein of form. A comeback comparable to Lazarus of Bethany, Puncheon’s horrendous penalty miss a few weeks ago has inspired him to produce some of his finest displays in a Palace shirt.

And his penetrating runs down the left have become a vital cog in the Eagles’ offensive machine – probably best demonstrated by the fact that he has completed more dribbles than any other Palace player (36). Puncheon is 14/1 with 888sport.com to score the first goal on Saturday.

Tony Pulis has always been an advocate of offensive wing-play, with his teams characterized with quick wingers who have the ability to deliver the ball. The aforementioned Jason Puncheon certainly fits into this category, along with Yannick Bolasie, the player employed on the opposite wing.

Bolasie has impressed with his dribbling skills this term, but what surprise many Eagles fans is that his tackling has also been of the highest order. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has won an impressive 79% of his challenges.

If Palace are relegated this term it is certain that there won’t be a shortage of suitors for talisman Mile Jedinak. The Australian has been inspirational at both ends of the pitch for the Eagles this term, making more offensive contributions than any other Palace player (405), and also intercepting the ball 90 times – the most in the league.

Adlene Guedioura hasn’t featured as prominently as he would have liked this term, which many pundits may be surprised at, considering his undoubted quality. In the few minutes he has played, however, the Algerian has made a sizeable impression – completing a pass in the opposition half at a rate of a pass every 4.1 minutes, a better rate than any other midfielder in the Palace squad.

It was vital that Manchester United did not lose when they travelled to Arsenal in their last Premier League, and despite a couple of scares, they managed to secure a solid 0-0 draw.

Tom Cleverley has had his fair share of stick this season, with many pundits questioning his position in the Red Devils team. Against Arsenal, however, he produced a solid all-round display to suggest that some of the criticisms may be slightly unwarranted. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he completed 24 passes in the opposition half, the second most in the United squad, and won every single challenge that he attempted.

Much of the credit for nullifying the Gunners should go to outgoing skipper Nemanja Vidic. The Inter Milan-bound defender produced a swashbuckling defensive display to keep the likes of Giroud, Cazorla and Ozil away, making a total of 25 defensive contributions (based on blocks, clearances, tackles won and interceptions). This was the most in the United squad, and the second most in the league.

With Vidic destined to a career in Italy and Rio Ferdinand’s injury problems looking to be getting the best of him, Manchester United manager David Moyes has been starting to look to the next generation of centre halves.

One player looking to fill the boots of the established duo is Chris Smalling, who has figured in 19 of the Red Devils games so far this season, and although he may not have won over all of his critics, he has impressed in the tackling department. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has won 94% of the challenges he has attempted this season.

England fans will be praying that Wayne Rooney comes through the rest of the season unscathed, as the Manchester United man is yet to figure in a World Cup when he has been totally ‘match fit’. The former Evertonian has been in fine form for the Red Devils this term, and he was a constant menace against the Gunners again, making a total of 26 offensive contributions (based on shots on target, passes in the opposition half, crosses and dribbles).

The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that this was the second most in the United squad. You can find Rooney at 17/4 with 888sport.com to open the scoring on Saturday.

Team news

Crystal Palace winger Jerome Thomas (back) is the only doubt for manager Tony Pulis. Hotshot Glenn Murray will again keep his place on the bench as he steps up his recovery for a long-term knee injury.

Manchester United boss David Moyes is likely to hand Adnan Januzaj a recall in place of Ashley Young.

Marouane Fellaini is fit and could start, Phil Jones faces a fitness test after his calf injury, while Jonny Evans is a doubtful of making the trip to London.

Palace: (from) Speroni, Hennessey, Gabbidon, Moxey, Mariappa, Delaney, Dann, McCarthy, Ward, Parr, Murray, Thomas, Jedinak, Dikgacoi, Ledley, O'Keefe, Bannan, Williams, Bolasie, Ince, Puncheon, Gayle, Jerome, Chamakh, Wilbraham.

Quotes

Roy Hodgson

“With the players Manchester United have, they can beat anyone in Europe on any given day.

“We have to be on it 110 per cent, we have to make sure everyone is going into the game with the right attitude, and hope that the atmosphere on the day will take us up to the level where we can compete with them.

“It is always a special atmosphere when you play the top four or five teams, and obviously United are one of the greatest clubs in world football.

“Everyone looks forward to it, not just the players, but the supporters as well. Personally, it does not matter who we are playing, I am only worried about getting the three points.”

David Moyes

"Tony Pulis has showed all his experience. A lot of people were writing Tony off during his time at Stoke but he hasn't half gone in there and made a few people eat their words.

"You can talk about whatever you want, but results are what matter and you have to think about where Crystal Palace were and where they are now.

"What matters to Tony is results and he's very good at getting them. Tony always has his sides well organised and well drilled. The players are made well aware of how he wants them to play and what's expected from them.

"He's had great success throughout his career. He's been a really successful manager in the Premier League."

Manchester United - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
7th	26	12	6	8	42

Full league table

Manchester United - current form

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
8	3	2	3	10	9

Full form table

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
14/09/2013	League	Manchester United	2 - 0	Crystal Palace
30/11/2011	League Cup	Manchester United	1 - 2	Crystal Palace
05/03/2005	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 0	Manchester United
18/12/2004	League	Manchester United	5 - 2	Crystal Palace
10/11/2004	League Cup	Manchester United	2 - 0	Crystal Palace

All time results

Last meeting

Manchester United 2-0 Palace

Saturday September 14 2013

Manchester United: De Gea, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Fabio, Anderson (Fellaini, 62), Rooney, Carrick, Young (Januzaj 67), Valencia, van Persie (Hernández, 79)

Subs not used: Amos, Cleverley, Zaha, Evans

Goals: van Persie (pen 45), Rooney (81)

Bookings: Young

Palace: Speroni, Mariappa, Gabbidon, Moxey, Delaney, Campaña (Guédioura 59), Dikgacoi (s/o 44), Jedinak, Puncheon, Gayle (Jerome 64), Chamakh (Kebe 75)

Subs not used: Alexander, Phillips, O'Keefe, Bannan

Bookings: Moxey, Chamakh