Crystal Palace vs. Tottenham: Should we expect another 1-0 result?
By Gary Pearson
Five of the last six encounters between these London clubs have resulted in a 1-0 final, with Tottenham coming out on top on all but one occasion.
You can’t fault Crystal Palace for the way they acquit themselves against Spurs. Contests between the London rivals are nail-biting affairs, with either side usually a single play away from a decisive moment. The last time Tottenham put more than one past Palace was two years ago, when Mauricio Pochettino’s side won 3-1 at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace’s current situation
Roy Hodgson has numerous injury headaches to cope with. Ten short and long-term injury absentees are making the relegation battle less tolerable.
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Mamadou Sakho and Martin Kelly are vying to return this weekend. However, with the match being brought a day forward, it will be a race against time for both defenders. Both are crucial elements for a Palace revival and the odds of being relegated increase dramatically without their services.
The same is true for Wilfried Zaha, who won’t return for another two or three weeks.
Palace were handling their business before the current injury crisis, but recent unfortunate personnel mishaps have dragged Hodgson’s side back into the relegation dogfight. They have been strong at home of late, though.
Losing only one of their last 10 at home, Selhurst Park offers sanctuary for the embattled team.
Palace, even on that stellar run of form, have the sixth worst home record in the top flight, underpinning how dire the situation was prior to Hodgson’s arrival.
Forebodingly, Palace have managed just one clean sheet in their last 27 London derbies.
Tottenham still undefeated in 2018
Spurs head to Selhurst Park as the only undefeated Premier League team in 2018. Going one further, Spurs haven’t lost a match in any competition since the turn of the new year, yet another sign of the team’s unerring consistency.
Nine matches undefeated in the Premier League has Pochettino’s side, even after the Rochdale draw, brimming with confidence.
According to PremierLeague.com, Tottenham are aiming to win three straight away games against Palace for the first time.
Harry Kane enjoys life on the road even more than at Wembley’s comfortable confines, with the masterful magician bagging 19 goals in his last 14 away Premier League matches.
Next: How far have Tottenham come with Pochettino at helm
Expect Spurs to upset the one-goal trend that has recently been a hallmark of this fixture. The Lilywhites will expose a wounded Palace rearguard, extending their unbeaten streak to 10 while bagging a few for good measure.