Palace v Wolves

Selhurst Park, Thursday 7.45pm

Crystal Palace

Team news

Wolves currently occupy the second automatic promotion place, just five points ahead of Palace, however they also hold a one-game advantage over the Eagles.

It seems like such a long time since Palace went up to Molineux to become the division one leaders - in fact in the short space of nearly four months so much has happened at Selhurst - nevertheless promotion is still the main objective for both clubs.

Dave Jones is expected to name an unchanged line up to that which beat Rotherham last Saturday. This means that Dean Sturridge and Nathan Blake will start up front despite Kenny Miller and ex-Palace player George Ndah both putting in good performances in recent games.

Defender Lee Naylor, who was subject to a torrent of abuse from Palace fans when the two sides met earlier this season after a string of very poor tackles, is recovering from a stomach bug. However, he is unlikely to displace Mohamed Camara from the starting line up.

For Palace fans, the main attraction on Thursday night is likely to be the debut of new signing Ade Akinbiyi, who out of pure coincidence used to play for Wolves before moving to Leicester for £5 million.

It will be interesting to see where exactly in the formation Akinbiyi will fit in. Trevor Francis has tried playing a 4-3-3 formation when Trevor Benjamin spent a month on loan at Selhurst, however it was clear to everyone that it just didn’t work.

Yet Thursday’s game is not just about Akinbiyi, it also represents an important chance to gain a much-needed three points if Palace are to be serious contenders for that second automatic promotion place. Also if the Eagles were to win on Thursday, we would also become the only team this season to do the double over Wolves.

Trevor Francis will once again be without central defenders Tony Popovic ad Kit Symons, which will mean that loan signing Sean Murphy will make his home debut partnered by Dean Austin in central defence.

Another injury casualty is Jamie Smith, who is currently suffering from an ankle injury which he picked up last week against Coventry. Smith scored at Hillsborough on Saturday however, he was substituted at half-time and will have to face a late fitness test.

If Jamie Smith isn’t fit in time, both David Hopkin and Tommy Black will be waiting in the wings to take his place in the starting line up, although JOVAN KIROVSKI could well play on the right side of midfield as he did against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

Wolves - league stats

Full league table

Wolves - current form

Full form table

Our home record v Wolves

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
20/10/2001	League	Wolves	0 - 1	Crystal Palace
28/04/2001	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 2	Wolves
11/11/2000	League	Wolves	1 - 3	Crystal Palace
05/02/2000	League	Wolves	2 - 1	Crystal Palace
28/09/1999	League	Crystal Palace	1 - 1	Wolves

All time results

One to watch

Dean Sturridge

The former Leicester man who will face off against his ex-Foxes team mate Akinbiyi has scored for fun under Jones at the Molineux club. Into double figures already, his pace has caused many first division defences trouble and has paid off the measly £350,000 price tag paid for him, in his lethal partnership with Nathan Blake.

Last meeting

English Division 1 C Palace 0 (0) Wolves 0 (1) Sinton 16 Proudlock 49 28-04-2001

C Palace: Kolinko, Mullins, Austin, Harrison, Frampton (Fuller,46), Hopkin (Berhalter,58), Riihilahti, Rubins (Gray,45), Carlisle, Freedman, Morrison Subs not used: Forssell, Gregg,

Wolves: Oakes, Muscat, Naylor, Lescott, Dinning, Branch, Robinson, Andrews (sent off 43), Sinton, Ketsbaia(Emblen,45), Proudlock Subs not used: Stowell, Roussel, Taylor, Camara,

Bookings: Harrison (C Palace) Branch (Wolves)

Attendance: 18993

Referee: Michael Ryan (Preston)

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