A South London rivalry match was on the cards to close Palace's 2011 portion of the season and after a loss to league leaders Southampton on Boxing Day, a win over Millwall was crucial to ensure they end the year on a high. The Lions completed the double over Palace last season but when the sides met just over a month ago it was a goalless draw that included a missed penalty by Murray.
The sides were even for a total of 23 minutes before a counter attack from Palace provided Jermaine Easter with the game's only goal. A great pass to Chris Martin, followed by a through ball into the box for Ambrose who squared it to Jamma who slotted home from 5 yards out meant that Palace jumped to 7th before Burnley's victory saw them leapfrog the Eagles. Palace sitting pretty in 8th for the start of the new year and a match against Leicester on Monday that could help shape a good run of form to build their play off hopes.
Team News
Crystal Palace may welcome back both David Wright and Dean Moxey from injury, but set to be without Julian Speroni as he looks to recover from a serious viral infection. Jonathan Williams, Alex Marrow and Lee Hills remain long-term absentees.
Leicester City have no new injury worries giving Nigel Pearson a fully fit squad to pick from. Neil Danns may well play against his former club for the first time having recently been more involved with the first team.
Preview
After a victory over rivals Millwall on Saturday, Crystal Palace return to Selhurst Park to face-off against the Championship's moneybags Leicester City. The Foxes were rumoured to be interested in hiring Dougie Freedman as ex-England boss Sven Goran-Eriksson's replacement in November and chants off "F*ck Off Leicester City, Dougie is ours!" could be heard around the ground when the sides met at the King Power Stadium. Leicester strolled to a 3-0 win over Palace that day so when the sides meet on Monday for an early 1:00pm kick off: I. Want. Revenge.
The sides have met just 15 times in the last ten years with Leicester claiming six wins over Palace's four most notable of the 15 was the 2-2 draw in 2007 in which Clinton Morrison's 90th minute equaliser saved Palace from defeat just minutes after Kisnorbo gave Leicester the lead.
My CPFC line-up
Price
Clyne McCarthy Gardner Parr
KG Jedinak
Zaha Ambrose Scannell
Murray
Subs: Fitzsimons, Ramage, Wright, Garvan, Easter
Leicester's last six:
D-D-L-D-L-W
Last time out:
Leicester City 3-0 Crystal Palace
Match Facts:
-The sides have played a total of 58 times: Palace 20-16-22 Leicester
-Palace have scored an average of 0.9 goals at home this season, conceding 0.54
-Leicester have scored an average of 1.09 goals on their travels this season, conceding 1.27
-Palace have scored 9 goals in the final 15 minutes of games this season, Leicester concede heaviest in the final 30 minutes.
My Prediction:
Crystal Palace 2-1 Leicester
Murray Nugent
Zaha
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