Crystal Palace v Bristol City Preview

Posted on January 22nd, 2011 in English Championship

This is something of a relegation clash, as Crystal Palace enter this game sat in 22nd position while their opponents are just a few places higher in 17th. It’s been a miserable season for both, especially Bristol City who were tipped for great success after a highly active summer in the transfer market.

It’s a well known fact that Crystal Palace have very little money and that could be the reason why instead of appointing an established manager, the Eagles promoted from within and gave Dougie Freedman the reins at the start of the month. Time will tell if that was a wise decision, although the Eagles certainly enter this fixture with some poor form behind them having lost their last two games against Coventry and Swansea respectively. It now means that the club are sat in the final relegation place although with just two points separating them from safety, their season certainly isn’t over yet.

It wasn’t too long ago that Bristol City were suffering from all sorts of problems but thankfully for them, their form has picked up ever so slightly in recent months and they now have at least some breathing space between them and the bottom three. The Robins have collected thirty one points from their opening fixtures and that now means that they are six points clear from the drop zone

Swansea v Crystal Palace Preview

Both of these sides could make big steps this weekend as Swansea aim to break into the automatic positions, while Crystal Palace are looking to exit the relegation zone. A draw could even help both achieve their aims; although with much of the season remaining both managers will be desperate to get more than that.

When Paulo Sousa left Swansea during the summer, not many of their supporters had much faith in the board appointing someone who could build on his success. However, despite arriving with a dented reputation, Brendan Rodgers has taken Swansea to another level and should they win this weekend, they’ll have an excellent chance of sneaking into 2nd place. However, Rodgers knows that his side must improve their recent form with the club approaching this game having lost three from their last five league games. They do come into this fixture on the back of a win though, having brushed past Colchester in the Cup with a 4-0 result last weekend.

Their opponents meanwhile have had an awful season and George Burley was made to pay with his job just before the start of the New Year. Palace were thought to have approached many different people for Burley’s successor but in the end they appointed from within, with Dougie Freedman being given the role permanently. It certainly seems a bold move, especially with Palace in such a precarious position and with Freedman having no prior experience. This is his first game in charge on a permanent basis and while he oversaw victory in the Eagles’ last league game as caretaker, he’s certainly going to have a job on his hands to keep them in the division. That victory was their only one in their last six league games and having also lost in the Cup last weekend, confidence at Selhurst Park must be at an all time low.

As for team news, Swansea have a huge piece of news heading into this encounter with Alan Tate back in the reckoning after completing a suspension. That makes up for Garry Monk’s absence, as the former Barnsley defender sits out through a knee injury. Elsewhere, Neil Taylor is another absentee as he struggles with an ankle complaint, while Angel Rangel should be available having recovered from his injury. The visitors on the other hand have two concerns. Darren Ambrose and Alex Marrow are struggling with minor injuries and both will be penciled in for late fitness tests.

Both of these sides are in poor form and both have picked up the vast majority of their points at home. Although Crystal Palace won’t make it easy, we think that the Swans will just have too much and will edge this out with a 2-1 victory.

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Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace Preview

Both of these clubs actually sit fairly close to each other in the table, with Crystal Palace down in the relegation zone in 22nd while their hosts are a few places higher in 16th. It certainly doesn’t make nice reading for either club, especially Nottingham Forest who only in May this year featured in a playoff final.

Nottingham Forest’s season has been topsy-turvy although their supporters will be thoroughly disappointed that their club doesn’t look like repeating the last campaigns success. Many thought they underachieved anyway, but Billy Davies knows that he has to lift his side from the depths of 16th considering some of the talent that is available in his squad. In fairness to Davies, recent form hasn’t been too bad and even though Forest lost their last game to Leicester, before that they were unbeaten in four. There’s no doubt that they need more wins under their belt though and Davies must be ruing the amount of lost points after drawing an incredible nine times this season.

Crystal Palace meanwhile are performing exactly as many predicted, with the Eagles facing an extremely tough battle to stay in the division. It would be unjust to say that their position is critical at this stage though, with the club only in the bottom three due to goal difference. However, it’s clear that George Burley’s men are in for a season of struggle with the club simply unable to put together any sort of form. They head into this game on the back of a defeat to Leeds and a draw to Hull and in the latter it was obvious that their main problem is goals, with the team unable to capitalize on a host of chances. What’s more, and worrying as they head into this fixture, they have the worst away form in the division having recorded just the one victory away from Selhurst Park this campaign.

As for team news, Billy Davies heads into this game sweating on the fitness of Paul McKenna and Dele Adebola. McKenna has been struggling for some time with a groin problem while the latter has also missed recent fixtures with a knee complaint. The visitors meanwhile are hopeful of including Darren Ambrose and Alex Marrow, both who missed the last game against Hull. A leg injury prevented former Newcastle man Ambrose from featuring, while Marrow has almost recovered from an ankle issue.

Only six points separate these two sides in the division although we think this will be a comfortable victory for Nottingham Forest. Despite their lowly position, Forest have one of the best home records and with Crystal Palace struggling so much on their travels, our prediction is a comfortable 2-0 win for the City Ground outfit.

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Crystal Palace v Watford Preview

Posted on November 10th, 2010 in English Championship

At the start of the season many thought that both of these sides were destined for League One, although now that only appears partly true. Crystal Palace are living up to pre-season expectations and are rock bottom of the division after a dismal start to the campaign, while Watford on the other hand are having a reasonable season and sit comfortably in 11th place.

When George Burley took over during the summer he was probably hoping for a fresh start at Selhurst Park after the club were taken over following a summer of financial crisis. However, it appears there are still big problems at the Eagles and with Burley having such little cash to bring in new players, it’s no surprise that they’re battling at the wrong end of the table. Just eleven points have been accumulated in the opening fifteen games and that puts them in 24th spot, four points from safety. Things don’t look like they’re going to improve either and the Eagles are in awful form, winning just once out of their last nine. They were unlucky in their last outing after conceding late against Middlesbrough, but there’s no doubting that things need to change quickly if the club are to survive.

Watford meanwhile were also tipped to struggle, yet the Hornets surprised everyone in the opening couple of months of the campaign by launching themselves into a lofty top six position. In recent weeks that form has tailed off though and while many supporters of the club would happily take a final finish of 11th

Middlesbrough v Crystal Palace Preview

Posted on November 06th, 2010 in English Championship

Nobody would have predicted that this would be defined as a relegation clash at the start of the season. However, as it turns out these two sides are in 24th and 23rd and both know that a win is by no means going to lift them out of the bottom three. Considering their problems off the field, Crystal Palace can be forgiven for their start yet Middlesbrough are in a real mess and it looks as though all of their summer spending has been one big waste.

Middlesbrough’s position in the table is simply incredible and their supporters must be wondering just what is happening to their club. A return of eleven points from the opening fourteen games is not acceptable to any club

Norwich v Crystal Palace Preview

Having romped to the League One title last season, nobody could have quite expected the success that Norwich are enjoying at the moment. The Canaries are flying in 3rd position which is in stark contrast to opponents Crystal Palace, who are still seemingly getting over last season and sit down in 23rd place.

At first some will have thought Norwich’s early success was down to the momentum they were carrying from their promotion, but as time has passed it appears there is more to it than that. Twenty points from eleven games has propelled them into 3rd spot and at the moment they are on a small run of three unbeaten games. Their last one was a goalless draw against QPR, a result that has strengthened their promotion aspirations no end considering how strong QPR appear to be this term. Of course, it’s still early days, but there’s no doubting that in Paul Lambert the Canaries have a hugely talented manager and considering some of success in his short career already, don’t be surprised if they manage to keep their lofty position.

Crystal Palace on the other hand aren’t enjoying much success and it looks as though it’ll be a long, hard struggle for George Burley’s men. Having only narrowly avoided extinction during the summer, you could say they are lucky to even be competing, but with new owners in place there was renewed optimism at Selhurst Park. The appointment of Burley seemed to be a step in the right direction but the Eagles have struggled to hit any sort of form and they’ve picked up just the eight points from the opening eleven fixtures. Worryingly, their form over recent weeks has been abysmal and Burley will know that it’s vital to end the five game winless run that the club are currently on if they are to survive.

In terms of team news, the home side will have to cope without the influence of Elliott Ward as he sits out through suspension. Elsewhere, fellow defender Adam Drury is hoping to beat a hamstring injury and be declared fit to feature. All of Crystal Palace’s news focuses on suspensions and George Burley will firstly welcome back striker James Vaughan who returns after completing a one game ban. However, a second red card of the season for Claude Davis means that he’s now going to miss the next four games.

As for a prediction, we’re going to go with the obvious. Norwich have the form, the home advantage and the league position and it would be silly to bet against them. Paul Lambert’s men have enjoyed a brilliant start to life back in the Championship and we fully expect that to continue here. 3-1 Canaries.

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