Crystal Palace – Brighton : Preview & Prediction
‘The Gatwicko’ approaches with Crystal Palace preparing to host Brighton & Hove Albion, who will travel some 40 miles to Selhurst Park. The two sides are in very opposite form, with the Eagles having gone five straight games without a win in the Premier League (PL), a run that saw its latest episode with a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United last time out.
Palace have gone the most consecutive matches without a win (six) just once since Patrick Vieira’s arrival at the club, and the team urgently needs to improve if they are to avoid finding themselves fighting to avoid relegation this season. Their situation is not helped by the prolonged absence of the team’s talisman Wilfried Zaha, but it is their flimsy defense that is largely responsible for their poor form, and only bottom side Southampton (17) have conceded more PL goals playing at home than the Londoners (16).
The visitors are having no such problems and have already broken into the top six in the PL after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Bournemouth, despite significant absentees. Everything seemed to presage that the “Seagulls” would go scoreless for the first time in ten games (G6, E1, P3) but their late goal gave them the win and maintained the team’s good momentum, even now Opta gives them a 9.3% chance of finishing in the top four this season (before the start of the matchday).
This is impressive stuff, and even more so when you consider that their current manager Roberto de Zerbi has only been in charge for 14 PL games (G6, E3, P5), but has led Brighton to their highest points tally (34) at this point in their top flight history almost without realizing it. They are flying high, and three wins in their last four away league games (E1), a span in which they have also scored a whopping 12 goals, hint that they can hurt a struggling Eagles.
Players to watch: Palace will rely on goalkeeper Vicente Guaita, who has never lost to the Gaviotas (G2, E3). He will have his work cut out against Brighton’s tied top scorer, Kaoru Mitoma, who has scored in three straight games — the last two coming after 86 minutes.
Weekend stat: Only Manchester United (nine)
Crystal Palace – Brighton : Betting Tips
Crystal Palace – Win Odds: 3.25
