The Eagles travelled northwards to Oakwell on Tuesday night to face off against an in-form Barnsley who have gained nine points from their last three games. The Tykes sit just below The Eagles on goal difference in the league and will hope to leap frog their visitors as well as a few others with a fourth win in a row.
Dougie Freedman dropped skipper Paddy McCarthy to the bench for this match and may be criticized for doing so, as Barnsley's goal hungry Vaz Te let rip to guide the ball through Julian Speroni's hands and into the net after just nine seconds. The Tykes charged from kick off and Vaz Te's effort from the edge of the box defied Speroni putting the hosts 1-0 up. Jermaine Easter equalised for Palace on the half hour mark, Stephen Foster's back header to Steele didn't reach it's target and Easter sprung to dink the ball over the Tykes' keeper.
Jacob Butterfield's driven shot from outside the box was parried by Jules but the ex-Bolton striker Vaz Te was there to strike again giving the home side a lead with 13 minutes to go that would seal three points for Barnsley.
A fifth win in six games puts Barnsley two points and two places from the play-off spots, whereas defeat means Palace are without a victory in seven league games and with an out of form Nottingham Forest at the weekend will hope to return to winning ways.
Team News
Crystal Palace's list of injuries was added to when they claimed a semi-final spot ahead of Manchester United eleven days ago, Sean Scannell picking up a hamstring injury, Dean Moxey an ankle knock. They are joined by Jonathan Parr (thigh) and on-loan centre back Dekel Keinan (ankle) as well as the long term absentees Williams, Hills & Marrow. Giving Freedman something to ponder when selecting a side to face Forest. Scannell is doubtful but may feature if he recovers from his hamstring injury.
Nottingham Forest will be without Ishmael Miller who suffers from a broken metatarsal, Chris Cohen is a long term absentee but Andy Reid will be fit to start after returning from suspension. Dexter Blackstock, Lewis McGugan, George Boateng, Matt Derbyshire & Brendan Moloney featured against Walsall in a reserves game with Reid so may feature for Forest.
Preview
Forest go into this one on the back of three defeats, Cardiff (1-0), Leeds (4-0) & Brighton (1-0), having not scored in three games it will be no surprise if the Reds have low self-esteem. However, Palace are without a win in the league in the last seven games, drawing four of these. Palace will be rattled by their long list of injuries but the key to Palace's successful wins over teams like Man United, Wigan and Middlesbrough this season (all in the cup) has been their excellent defence. Unfortunately their two left backs (Parr & Moxey) are both injured as well as having on loan centre back Dekel Keinan suffering from an ankle knock. Forests returning key players such as McGugan will probably play a huge role in Forest's attack, McGugan has scored the second highest goals at home for Forest, scoring two, one of which was a penalty. Tudgay holds the title of highest goal scorer at home with three, these are his only goals of the season thus far.
Newly appointed Forest boss Steve Cotterill is hoping for a repeat performance of the Reds show at The AmEx against Brighton where they lost 1-0. Cotteril told the club's website:
"We produced a really, really good performance down at Brighton...
we won't play like that again and get beat"
My CPFC line-up:
Speroni
Clyne McCarthy Gardner Ramage
Zaha Jedinak Garvan Ambrose
Easter
Murray
Subs: Price, Wright, Dikgacoi, Scannell, Martin
Forest's last six:
L-L-L-W-L-W
Last time out:
Crystal Palace 0-3 Notts Forest
McGugan (17')
Tudgay (70')
McGoldrick (80')
Match Facts:
- The sides have met 58 times over the years, Forest boast 26 victories out of these, Palace winning 15.
- Forest have won 55% of their points at home this season, with 3 wins and 2 draws, balanced by five losses.
- Palace have won 44.4% of their points away from home this season, winning 4 and losing 6.
- The Reds have scored an average of 1.1 goals at home this season, conceding 1.8.
- Palace have scored an average of 1.1 goals on their travels this season, conceding 1.4.
My Prediction:
Nottingham Forest 1-2 Crystal Palace
McGugan Murray
Ambrose
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