C Palace v Stoke: Another entertaining match in prospect at Selhurst

C Palace v Stoke
Saturday 25 November, 15:00

Eagles inching forward

A second consecutive home match for Palace, who led twice against Everton last Saturday but were pegged back to 2-2. That inched them on to five points, still bottom of the table and now five points from safety.

With no goals and no points on the road, these home matches are where Roy Hodgson's side must start to pick up more points.

Tight in the middle

Stoke, like Palace, are coming off a 2-2 draw when they led twice - away to Brighton on Monday night. That was their second 2-2 in a row, having struck back twice for a home draw with Leicester in their previous game.

Mark Hughes's side are unbeaten in three matches and are 15th in the table, the lowest of four teams all on 13 points. It is so tight in mid-table that a win here could take them into the top half.

Suspect defences

Hopes of a great escape for Palace are pinned on their home form, which has improved markedly under Hodgson with just one defeat in four league games. Their only win was 2-1 at home to Chelsea in mid-October but the encouraging aspect is that they have now scored two goals in each of their last three matches at Selhurst Park.

The quality of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Wilfried Zaha is another positive, with the latter having contributed a goal in each of the three home games since his return from injury.

A home win looks a distinct possibility but the defence remains suspect, with no clean sheet in the first 12 league games and at least two goals conceded in four of their six home matches.

Stoke are generally seen as a low-scoring side but they have found the net in each of their last six games, scoring twice in four of them.

Like Palace, the Potters are being held back by a leaky defence. They have won both matches when keeping a clean sheet (both 1-0, home to Arsenal and away to Watford) but have managed just one victory (2-1 home to Southampton) from the 10 games when they have conceded.

Palace may just have the edge with the attacking quality of Loftus-Cheek and Zaha, with Stoke probably more in need of a clean sheet if they are to take three points.

Goals in store

Over 2.5 goals looked overpriced in Palace's match against Everton last week and that is a tempting proposition at 2.10.

But preference is for both teams to score at 5/6 with Betfair Sportsbook. Palace took ages to score this season but they have found the net in each of their last three home games, while also conceding at the other end.

Stoke, meanwhile, have conceded in eight of the ten games in which they have scored. They lead the Premier League for games where both teams have scored (eight out of 12, 67%).

Ref Watch

Mike Dean is one of the most widely used Premier League referees, often for a match involving one of the big six teams, and he tends towards the higher end of cards tallies. He ranks third highest of the 12 refs who have taken charge of six or more Premier League games this season.

Recommended Bet
Back both teams to score at 5/6 (Sportsbook)

Opta Stat
The Eagles are unbeaten in their four Premier League home games against Stoke, winning three and drawing one. Palace are 2.12 for the win here.