Palace v Walsall

Selhurst Park, Saturday 3.00pm

Crystal Palace

Team news

Walsall fans will know exactly how we felt this time last season as they see their team struggling to stay in the first division.

The Saddlers will be without on-loan right-back Greg Shields, who just two days after extending his loan spell for the rest of the season, has decided to pack his things and take his caravan back to Charlton due to “personal reasons”. This could mean that experienced defender Ian Brightwell will be called into the starting line-up.

Manager Colin Lee’s defensive problems do not end here as David Holdsworth is suspended for the trip to Selhurst and Dean Barras is out with an injury.

Meanwhile, striker Don Goodman, who has been sidelined for the past six months through injury, is slowly regaining fitness but is unlikely to make the starting XI with a place on the bench more likely.

Palace have failed to score in the past four home games, with the last home win dating to the 19th of January. This will be something Francis will be hoping to overturn. However, after the humiliation at Grimsby, players and fans alike will be taking nothing for granted.

In defence, Curtis Fleming has recovered from his hamstring problem so a place on the bench is a likely scenario for the former Irish international with Jamie Smith likely to keep his place at right back.

With Kit Symons and Tony Popovic both still recovering from injury, Dean Austin and Shaun Murphy should pair up in central defence with Danny Granville playing at left back.

In midfield, Simon Rodger is suffering from a back problem, and although he played in a reserve game against Wycombe on Wednesday, Francis is unlikely to risk him from the first minute.

Tommy Black missed the trip to Maine Road with an extremely painful broken tooth, nonetheless the creative winger should start on the right hand side of midfield with Julian Gray playing on the opposite wing. This leaves space for Aki Riihilahti and Hayden Mullins in central midfield.

Up front, Clinton Morrison and Dougie Freedman will be hoping to end their three game goal drought while Ade Akinbiyi should once again take up his place on the bench.

Walsall - league stats

Full league table

Walsall - current form

Full form table

Our home record v Walsall

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
03/11/2001	League	Walsall	2 - 2	Crystal Palace
15/04/2000	League	Walsall	2 - 2	Crystal Palace
28/12/1999	League	Crystal Palace	3 - 2	Walsall
02/01/1989	League	Crystal Palace	4 - 0	Walsall
22/11/1988	Full Members Cup	Crystal Palace	4 - 2	Walsall

All time results

One to watch

Marcelo

The former Birmingham striker has done well since his move to Walsall under Colin Lee's watchful eye. Always a steady performer at Sheffield United and Birmingham, he is a skilfull forward player with a great eye for goal. The Brazilian is just the sort of player Wasall need if they are to stay in Division One, and Palace will need to keep a sharp eye on him this Saturday.

Last meeting

English Division 1

C Palace 3 (1) Svensson 42 (p) Carlisle 64 Mullins 86 Walsall 2 (1) Ricketts 32, 82 28-12-1999

C Palace: Mautone, Smith, Linighan, Austin, Phelan, Carlisle, Mullins, Rodger, Fullarton, McKenzie, Svensson Subs not used: Frampton, Woozley, Rizzo, Gregg, Martin

Walsall: Walker, Marsh, Roper, Viveash, Gadsby (Matias,66), Wrack, Keates (Larusson,71), Bukran, Padula, Rammell (Robins,79), Ricketts Subs not used Pointon, Barras

Bookings: None

Attendance: 13,943

Referee: P R Richards (Preston)

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