Bottom of the table Crystal Palace are five points from safety and still have just the one league win this season. They continue their search for a second victory when hosting Stoke City at Selhurst Park. Palace sit at the bottom of the Premier League with just five points. Three of those were earned in that shock win at home to Chelsea but they have struggled to build on that surprise win.
Four subsequent league games have seen Palace earn just two points and it hasn’t been that hard a fixture list with the toughest game being Tottenham away from home. They have a good run of fixtures coming up and don’t meet a top side until they face Arsenal on December 28. Games against Stoke, Brighton, West Brom, Bournemouth, Watford and Leicester must produce at least a couple of wins or they could end up totally stranded at the bottom of the table.
At least the goals have started flowing and the last three home league games have seen them score twice in each game. The appearance of Christian Benteke on the subs bench for the Everton game last weekend is a promising sight. Wilfried Zaha has scored in each of the last three home games and if he and Benteke can start scoring regularly then there is some hope for Palace before some January transfer window recruits.
Buying some defenders might be a good idea too. They are yet to keep a clean sheet in the league this season and both teams have scored in their last three league and cup games. Only once in their last ten home league games have the opposition left without scoring a goal and that has to be improved on.
Stoke City also have defensive problems and have conceded at least twice in eight of their last ten league and cup games, so perhaps this is the game for Benteke to make his comeback.
City drew 2-2 at Brighton on Monday but that could easily have been a defeat but for their opponents being denied a clear penalty. Stoke start the weekend in 15th place and are only four points above the bottom three. After this game they have Liverpool, Spurs, and Burnley in three of their next four games so a win at Selhurst Park would be extremely welcome.
Their last five league games have only produced an away win at Watford and this is a side that totally lacks consistency. 24 league goals have already been conceded, the same number as their opponents. Away form has only seen one win and 13 goals conceded, though seven of those came at Manchester City. Just two away wins in the last 13 league games is a worrying statistic for the months ahead.
Conclusion
Only West Ham United have conceded more league goals than these two clubs, so a bet on a 0-0 draw might not be advisable. Both teams could do with a win to boost confidence and reduce their chances of ending up in the Championship next season.
Palace are at least scoring goals now and the return of Christian Benteke is massive for them. However, there’s no point starting to score goals if your defence is going to keep conceding goals and that first clean sheet is almost as vital as another win. Both of the last two Palace home games have finished 2-2 and Stoke have drawn their last two games by that score-line. This looks booked for a score-draw.
The Key Stats
Last Five Premier League Results – Most recent first
Crystal Palace – DLDLW
Stoke City – DDWLL
Head to Head – Last Five League Meetings
11/02/17 – Stoke City 1 Crystal Palace 0
18/09/16 – Crystal Palace 4 Stoke City 1
07/05/16 – Crystal Palace 2 Stoke City 1
19/12/15 – Stoke City 1 Crystal Palace 2
21/07/15 – Stoke City 1 Crystal Palace 2
- These two sides have conceded 48 league goals between them this season.
- Crystal Palace have drawn their last two home games 2-2.
- Crystal Palace have only lost one of their last seven league games against Stoke City.
- Both teams have scored in the last three home Palace games against Stoke City.
- Stoke City have only kept two clean sheets in the league this season, Palace are still waiting for their first.
- Stoke City have scored in their last six league games.
- Stoke City have conceded at least twice in eight of their last ten league and cup games.
- Both teams have scored in three of the last four Crystal Palace league and cup games.