Crystal Palace: Nathaniel Clyne was tipped to return to the squad against Brighton on Tuesday but there was no sign of him, although he has been in training for a week or so. But with good news comes bad and of course Owen Garvan (knee), Kagisho Dikgacoi (hamstring) & Lee Hills (knee) will still be sidelined.
West Ham: Frederic Piquionne returns for the Hammers' after serving his suspension. Taylor, Reid & O'Brien all face late fitness tests after suffering with various injuries and knocks. Also, West Ham have signed Arsenal's ex-number one, now supposed third choice 'keeper Manuel Almunia today, on an emergency one month loan due to Robert Green being ruled out for up to six weeks with a knee cartilage injury. West Ham have also announced they wish to bring back Carlos Tevez on loan but there is no chance of a deal being put through before tomorrow's game so Palace will not need to worry about the striker that helped put them out of the Carling Cup a few seasons ago until perhaps the visit to Upton Park.
Preview:
Up until Tuesday, West Ham were enjoying their best start to a league season in 28 years, whereas Crystal Palace had just suffered a 1-0 defeat to rock bottom Doncaster but the tables turned as West Ham were beaten by Ipswich 0-1 and Palace rectified their poor away form with a last gasp 1-3 victory over main rivals Brighton (for more details please scroll down and read the full report).
With this victory in the bag, Dougie's boys' confidence will be at an all time high. Also, up until their 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough a few weeks ago, Palace were unbeaten at home. So in all honesty, you'd be forgiven for being unable to call this London derby.
West Ham's away form has been excellent this season; they are unbeaten away from their home turf, conceding only one goal, scoring nine. However, their last away game against our neighbors, Millwall, ended goalless.
Crystal Palace defenders will have to be on their A-game, especially in the first fifteen minutes where the Hammers have scored five goals. The records say that Palace will be able to cope with this though, as they've only conceded two in the first fifteen minutes, one of which was against Brighton on Tuesday.
The last time the two sides met was also at Selhurst Park in the 2003/04 season in which current manager, and in my opinion an Eagles legend, Dougie Freedman scored the only goal of the game to give Palace the win. Prior to this, upon visiting Upton Park, West Ham strolled away with all three points with three goals to Palace's zero. Coincidentally this game also fell on the first of October. Neither side has a player on their books today, that took part in that game exactly eight years ago, unless you count Crystal Palace boss Dougie Freedman.
I know I've already mentioned it but this game is almost impossible to call and I for one will not be betting my hard-earned cash on even a goal scorer, although if I had to pick I'd say Zaha or Murray who have both been in exceptional form lately.
My CPFC line-up:
Speroni
Clyne McCarthy Gardner Moxey
Marrow Jedinak
Zaha Ambrose Scannell
Murray
Subs: Price, Tunchev, Williams, Parr, Easter.
West Ham's last 6:
L-W-D-W-W-D
Last time out:
Crystal Palace 1-0 West Ham United
Freedman (66')
Match Facts:
- The two sides haven't met in eight years.
- The last time the two sides played on this date, West Ham won 3-0 at Upton Park.
- West Ham have the fifth best away form in the league this season.
- Crystal Palace have lost only one game at home this season, they went on to beat Middlesbrough 3 days later in the Cup.
- West Ham score an average of 2.25 goals per away game.
- Crystal Palace concede an average of 1.25 goals per home game.
My predictions:
Crystal Palace 1-1 West Ham United
Zaha Cole
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