Crystal Palace vs West Brom preview
Tony Pulis hopes for another winning return to Selhurst Park when his West Brom side face Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Pulis took over at Palace midway through the 2013/14 season and he secured remarkable results to save the Eagles from relegation. Under Pulis, Palace were the ultimate kingmakers as they ended Liverpool’s title hopes with a 3-3 draw and Chelsea’s with a 1-0 victory over Jose Mourinho’s men.
He deservedly won the Manager of the Year award that season but despite all those memorable times at the south London club, he left two days before the start of last season. The Eagles had to go through a tough first-half of last season before Alan Pardew took over and saved Palace from relegation.
On his first return to Selhurst Park, Pulis claimed maximum points at the expense of his old team in predictable fashion. His West Brom side performed a rearguard action, with only 32 per cent possession en route to winning 0-2 back in April.
The Baggies boss will be hoping for another solid defensive performance and hopefully a couple of goals. Thanks to Pulis’ meticulous organisation, West Brom have kept more clean sheets than any Premier League side since January 10.
Last Monday, Albion failed to extend their record of 14 clean sheets this calendar year, mainly because their first-choice central defenders were out injured and the replacements looked nervy.
Palace have made remarkable progress as an established Premier League side since Alan Pardew took over. He lured Yohan Cabaye to add quality in central midfield, while also delving into the lower leagues with the shrewd recruitment of Bakary Sako.
As a sign of progress, the Eagles are now targeting European qualification. They currently sit seventh in the table, despite dealing with a brutal fixture list that included encounters with Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Crystal Palace team news
- Pardew is unlikely to have Kwesi Appiah (ACL knee), Damien Delaney (groin), Mile Jedinak, Marouane Chamakh (both hamstring) or Joel Ward (knee) back until after the international break.
- Connor Wickham (calf) could be available.
West Brom team news
- Pulis is sweating over the fitness of Gareth McAuley (calf) and Jonas Olsson (groin).
- Ben Foster is definitely out because of an ACL knee injury.
Crystal Palace vs West Brom prediction
Wilfried Zaha could return to the starting line-up after making the decisive contribution at Watford last weekend. The former Manchester United winger could start as a right attacking midfielder, with Yannick Bolasie making diagonal runs into the box from the left.
Dwight Gayle could lead the attack as a mobile centre forward, looking to evade West Brom defenders up top. In central midfield, James McArthur could return to the starting XI as the box-to-box midfielder, which should see Cabaye revert to his role as the main holding midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Pulis knows that Palace have pacy wingers, who cannot be allowed too much space in behind or the chance to have one-on-one situations with his full-backs. West Brom particularly need to protect Chris Brunt at left-back, because he is not a natural full-back and the midfielder struggled against Everton’s Gerard Deulofeu last time out.
The Baggies boss could pack his midfield and have Salomon Rondon as the lone centre forward stretching play in a 4-5-1 formation. That means Saido Berahino may continue as a left attacking midfielder, tracking back with Palace’s full-back before making offensive contributions as a second striker.
Jonny Evans and James Chester may have to start as central defenders, if both Olsson and McAuley miss out. That will allow Craig Dawson to continue at right-back, where he is looking increasingly comfortable.
Palace will have to take the game to the West Brom, and the Baggies will have a nice shape to deal with the hosts. Palace’s wingers have generally been their main source of offensive threat in recent games, but they are unlikely to have the space to hurt West Brom as effectively.
That means a quality player like Cabaye could be key to break down West Brom with his vision and passing range.
Score prediction
Crystal Palace 1-1 West Brom
