Palace meet QPR in the early kick-off on Saturday with the away side desperate for the three point that would boost their survival chances but will know that Selhurst Park is one of the toughest grounds in the Premier League to gain points so Alan Pardew and co will be raring to go.
Palaces have only lost three of their last 10 games in the Premier League with four wins during that period. They did however suffer a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Southampton in their last Premier League match. This run has helped them climb to 12th in the Premier League table, eight points away from the relegation zone.
With only one win in their last 10 Premier League matches, QPR will look to achieve better results if they are to avoid the drop. Their only win in their last 10 games came in a 2-0 against Sunderland in what has been their only away win of the season, but since then they have lost their last three games including two consecutive London derbies against Arsenal and Tottenham.
Team News
Crystal Palace
Frazier Campbell (hamstring) and former QPR player Jordan Mutch (hip) are missing until early April. Ex Arsenal strikers Chamakh and Sanogo are also suffering from hamstring injuries and will miss out
QPR
Leroy Fer and Richard Dunne are out for the next few months with knee ligament injuries whilst Adel Taraabt has a groin problem.
Interesting Facts
- Crystal Palace have only won one of their last seven home matches in the Premier League.
- QPR have only won one match away from home this season.
- Crystal Palace have not kept a clean sheet in their last 10 home games.
- QPR have won just one and lost 16 of their last 18 Premier League games away from home.
- There have been just seven goals scored in the five Premier League meetings between the two sides.
League Head to Heads
2014/2015      Sun 28 Dec    Q.P.R.            0 – 0    Palace
2010/2011      Sat 12 Mar     Q.P.R.            2 – 1    Palace
2010/2011      Sat 02 Oct      Palace            1 – 2    Q.P.R.
2009/2010      Sat 10 Apr      Palace            0 – 2    Q.P.R.
2009/2010      Tue 03 Nov    Q.P.R.            1 – 1    Palace
Key Players
Crystal Palace – Dwight Gayle
Young English striker Dwight Gayle has offered Crystal Palace a great goal scoring threat when given the chance this season. With five goals to his name he is their joint highest goal scorer with this season in the Premier League and he has shown that he is very capable of getting more goals to his name as well. Gayle adds composure and a clinical edge to the team with a conversion rate of 29%. With his pace and runs off the ball Gayle can be a nuisance for defenders often giving them a tough time with 22 fouls being committed against him this season.
QPR – Charlie Austin
Charlie Austin will be really looking to impress England manager Roy Hodgson to make sure that he can get a place in the England squad for the international matches at the end of the month. He will probably want to carry on in the scintillating form he has been in all season with 15 goals to his name making him fourth highest goal scorer this season in the Premier League. He has shown that he can score all types of goals with either foot and with his head and he is very good at taking his chances with a conversion rate of 25% showing that he is a deadly goals scoring threat.
Prediction
I’m expecting a hard fought match with hard challenges and tough tackles flying in left, right and centre but overall I think a draw would be a fair assumption for these two teams.
My Prediction – Crystal Palace 1-1 QPR
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