Crystal Palace will welcome West Ham United to the Selhurst Park in what will be a slightly awkward derby between the two teams. The Hammers and the Eagles were expected to tussle for space in the Top half of the Premier League table but the teams currently lie at the opposite ends of the sphere. West Ham have spectacularly failed to get their act together while Alan Pardew led Palace have recovered after a slightly uneven start and now find themselves at a respectable 8th spot.
But irrespective of the league standings, Palace will only start the match as slight favourites with West Ham boasting of players who can easily turn the game on its head in a matter of minutes.
Pardew will be wary of the likes Payet and Antonio and a solid display is needed for them to collect 3 points from this home game.
TEAM NEWS & PREDICTED LINE-UPS
CRYSTAL PALACE (4-1-4-1)
Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew has confirmed Scott Dann will again be missing with a hamstring injury, but he should return for their next match.
Long-term absentees Pape Souare and Loic Remy remain out.
Mandanda; Ward, Tomkins, Delaney, Kelly; Ledley, Zaha, McArthur, Puncheon, Townsend; Benteke
WEST HAM UNITED (4-3-3)
West Ham include fit-again Aaron Cresswell for the first time this season after a knee injury.
Havard Nordtveit and Jonathan Calleri have shaken off knocks, but Andre Ayew, Sam Byram, Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho, Arthur Masuaku and Gokhan Tore are out.
Adrian; Arbeloa, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Kouyate, Noble, Obiang; Payet, Zaza, Antonio
KEY MEN
CRYSTAL PALACE
CHRISTIAN BENTEKE
The big Belgian has found his feet after a wobbly start and Palace are beginning to reap the rewards of investing the amount of money they have. He is currently in a rich vein of form having scored inside 7 seconds for Belgian during the International break. He is thriving on the service provided to him by the likes of Townsend, Puncheon and Zaha and Pardew will be eager to see more of the same. He will look to add to this tally of 3 goals in 5 matches and help his team collect maximum points.
WEST HAM UNITED
DIMITRI PAYET
The enigmatic Frenchman has been his usual self but has failed to garner any support from his underachieving teammates. The return of Cresswell might open up a new avenue on the left-flank with the two players teaming up to create more. Payet already has 4 assists to add to his wonder goal from the match against Middlesbrough. The Hammers are expectedly dependant on him to spark some attacking movement which can galvanise the currently deplorable state of the Hammers personnel at the moment.
BETTING ODDS
CRYSTAL PALACE-11/10
DRAW-13/5
WEST HAM UNITED- 11/4
