Palace v Stoke City

Selhurst Park, Saturday 3.00pm

Damien Delaney (Photo: Andy Roberts)

Story so far

Crystal Palace come into this fixture in search of their first win in four games, since their impressive home victory over Liverpool. The Eagles currently lie in 15th place in the league, one point above the relegation zone, but will be looking to put some safe distance between themselves and the drop zone with victory this weekend.

Palace are also going in search of their second clean sheet in a row after their last outing resulted in a 0-0 stalemate with fellow Londoners Tottenham Hotspur. Key to Palace achieving this is their shot stopper Julian Speroni, as illustrated by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. The Argentinian keeper has made 36 saves already this season, averaging 1.57 saves per goal conceded, and will look to increase that ratio by keeping Stoke at bay this weekend.

Palace will look to their inspirational skipper Mike Jedinak to win the battle of the midfield, and the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows how he goes about his business. The Australian national team captain has illustrated his quality on the ball by scoring five goals and creating one more already this season. His statistics in defence are even more impressive having won 79.5% of his 73 tackles and made 56 interceptions.

The man that could hold the key for the Eagles up top is Dwight Gayle, and the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows us just how good his form is at the moment. Gayle has managed two goals already this season, at an average of a goal every 180.5 minutes, converting 50% of his shots taken. He is 47/20 to score anytime with 888sport.com.

This weekend’s visitors to Selhurst Park, Stoke, will arrive with confidence after their fantastic 3-2 win over Arsenal last weekend. The result means that Stoke now sit five points clear of the relegation zone, and are now chasing a pack of seven teams within five points of them. A win this weekend could move them up four places to ninth and kick-start their hunt for European qualification for next year.

Stoke have a top class keeper in fantastic form in the shape of Asmir Begovic. The Bosnia and Herzegovina international shot stopper has made 23 saves already this season, according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. The fact that Begovic has average one save every 58.7 minutes so far this season also lends itself to demonstrating how tough a unit Stoke will be to break down on the weekend.

Stoke will also be happy that this year’s summer signing from Barcelona, Bojan, has found his feet at his new club as the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index demonstrates. Last weekend’s performance against Arsenal highlighted his talent, with a goal from just two attempts on goal, as well as his creative ability seeing as he delivered six crosses into the box as well. He is 18/5 to score anytime with 888sport.com.

The threat that Stoke pose going forward is not provided solely by Bojan, as fellow forward Jon Walters will certainly prove a handful come Saturday. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index can reveal that the Ireland international has managed three goals so far this term at an average of 171.5 minutes. Walters has managed to score 30% of his shots on goal this campaign, and hit the target with 60% of his efforts, and it is his decisive finishing that could trouble Palace.

Team news

Crystal Palace defender Damien Delaney could return to the starting 11 after recovering from a calf injury.

Midfielder Jason Puncheon (illness) faces a late check-up, while Joe Ledley (hip) and Adrian Mariappa (knee) are both out.

Stoke defender Marc Muniesa (hamstring) is missing and either Marc Wilson or Robert Huth will replace him. Steve Sidwell, Peter Odemwingie (both knee), Victor Moses (thigh) and Dionatan Teixeira (broken foot) are all sidelined.

Palace: (from) Speroni, Hennessey, Kelly, Fryers, Delaney, Dann, Ward, Hangeland, Jedinak, Bannan, McArthur, Bolasie, Thomas, Puncheon, Gayle, Campbell, Johnson, Doyle, Chamakh, Zaha.

Stoke: (from) Begovic, Sorensen, Butland, Shawcross, Huth, Pieters, Cameron, Bardsley, Nzonzi, Adam, Ireland, Wilson, Whelan, Walters, Arnautovic, Bojan, Assaidi, Diouf, Crouch, Shenton.

Stoke City - league stats

Full league table

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
18/01/2014	League	Crystal Palace	1 - 0	Stoke City
24/08/2013	League	Stoke City	2 - 1	Crystal Palace
15/01/2013	FA Cup	Stoke City	4 - 1	Crystal Palace
05/01/2013	FA Cup	Crystal Palace	0 - 0	Stoke City
07/04/2008	League	Stoke City	1 - 2	Crystal Palace

All time results

Last meeting

Palace 1-0 Stoke City

Saturday January 18 2014

Palace: Speroni, Gabbidon, Mariappa, Parr, Delaney, Puncheon, Bolasie (Wilbraham, 86), Ward, Jedinak, Chamakh (Moxey, 86), Guedioura (O'Keefe, 68)

Subs not used: Price, Gayle, Williams, Bannan

Goals: Puncheon (51)

Stoke City: Butland, Wilson, Shawcross, Pieters, Cameron, Whelan (Ireland, 58), Walters (Guidetti, 79), Adam, Nzonzi, Assaidi (Arnautovic, 72), Crouch

Subs not used: Palacios, Muniesa, Shotton, Sorensen

Bookings: Nzonzi, Arnautovic

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