Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers are going to do their best to put up a better show for the fans during Tuesday’s meeting at Selhurst Park. The two teams only scored one goal between them during the round of Premier League matches that took place over the weekend.
While the visitors picked up a morale-boosting 1-0 victory against Nottingham Forest, the Eagles walked away from Leicester City with another point to add to their total after playing to a scoreless draw with the hosts.
Our Match Preview: Crystal Palace vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Vicente Guaita kept woeful Leicester City at bay for Crystal Palace on Saturday, as the Eagles’ erratic run continued.
While Guaita was equal to Leicester’s chances, Palace failed to capitalize on any of their own, with Vieira describing a “flat” second half from his inconsistent team.
West Ham United drew with Southampton and Leeds United lost to Arsenal on Sunday, thus Palace is just two points above the relegation zone with a game in hand on 18th-placed Southampton.
With only one victory in their previous six Premier League matches and just three goals in their last four, Selhurst Park has been a goal-fest this season.
Palace has surrendered at least once in all of their top-flight games at Selhurst Park this season, despite scoring in each of their past four since beginning with a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal. Only one goal separated Wolves and Nottingham Forest in a story of two penalties at Molineux.
Ruben Neves scored a penalty when Matheus Nunes pulled Ryan Yates, but Jose Sa saved Brennan Johnson’s shot from 12 yards. Before scoring the game’s sole goal.
Neves told his teammates about Nottingham Forest’s ill-timed tweet of Emmanuel Dennis surrounded by wolf cubs titled “playtime.” Wolves’ social media staff reacted with their hilarious post ridiculing their competitors’ unjustified confidence.
Steve Davis guided the Wolves out of the relegation zone after ending a three-game winless streak, and they stay 17th as Southampton lost to West Ham. The wolves haven’t won any of their past nine Premier League away matches and haven’t scored in any of their last four.
Only Nottingham Forest has scored only one away goal all season, and Wolves’ prior record against Palace are not encouraging. The Eagles have won the past three meetings with clean sheets. Wolves have won three straights without conceding.
Our Team News: Crystal Palace vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Will Hughes was unable to play against Leicester due to sickness, joining Chris Richards (thigh), Jack Butland (wrist), James McArthur (groin), Nathaniel Clyne (ankle), and Nathan Ferguson (ankle) on the sidelines.
Hughes’s availability for Saturday’s game against Wolves is in doubt, and some were taken aback by Vieira’s decision to substitute for Wilfried Zaha in the 77th minute against Leicester, but the Ivory Coast forward is certain that he will be starting here.
Tyrick Mitchell has not played the full 90 minutes since returning from sickness, not even lasting an hour on Saturday, so temporary left-back Jairo Riedewald will be on standby. Michael Olise and Jean-Philippe Mateta will strive for recalls to the attacking trident with Zaha.
For the away side, Toti Gomes’ time in the lineup is coming to an end, as Nathan Collins has completed his three-game suspension and is now available to pair with Max Kilman in the backline.
In addition to the already mentioned Chiquinho and Sasa Kalajdzic, Raul Jimenez (groin) and Pedro Neto (ankle ligament) are still sidelined for the foreseeable future and will thus miss the World Cup.
Adama Traore has probably done enough to keep his starting position, and the same goes for Rayan Ait-Nouri, who was permitted to bomb forward against Forest. However, Goncalo Guedes, who has recovered from sickness, might replace Daniel Podence.
- Crystal Palace possible starting lineup: Guaita, Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell, Eze, Doucoure, Schlupp, Olise, Mateta, Zaha.
- Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup: Sa, Semedo, Kilman, Collins, Ait-Nouri, Nunes, Neves, Moutinho, Traore, Costa, Guedes.
Our prediction: Crystal Palace 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Even if Wolves are still having trouble scoring from open play, their recent win over Forest should serve as the impetus for better offensive fortunes, and Crystal Palace have had trouble sealing their back door at home.
Collins’s return to the backline is good news for Davis’ team, but Vieira can reinvigorate his assault by exploiting the visitors’ persistent weaknesses and earning a point for his team.
