2018-19 Premier League: Week 37 – Cardiff vs Crystal Palace

Relegation threatened Cardiff City are looking to starve off Premier League relegation as they welcome Crystal Palace to the Cardiff City Stadium.

Given Cardiff’s goal difference, a win here is an absolute must as defeat will send them down whilst Crystal Palace are aiming to finish the season as high as they possibly can.

 

Team news

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Cardiff will have Kenneth Zohore available after recovering from tight calf muscles. 

Aron Gunnarsson (muscular) is also expected to feature but Harry Arter (calf) is a doubt but the on-loan midfielder could return at Manchester United next weekend. 

Sol Bamba (Anterior Cruciate Ligament), Callum Paterson, Matthew Connolly (both ankle) and Joe Ralls (hamstring) all remain out and won’t feature until pre-season. 

Christian Benteke is a doubt for Crystal Palace after suffering a cheekbone injury but is expected to be available next weekend against Bournemouth.

James Tomkins (groin), Jeffrey Schlupp (ankle) and Mamadou Sakho all remain sidelined until next season. 

 

Form

Cardiff enter this game on a run of one win in their last five home games as well in their last six overall. 

Crystal Palace meanwhile have taken seven points from their last five matches and have taken 12 points from their last five away games, only losing at Tottenham during that run. 

 

Stat Attack

• Cardiff have won just one of their last five meetings with Crystal Palace (W1,  D1, L3).
• Both teams have scored in two of last three meetings at the Cardiff City Stadium.
• Cardiff’s Neil Etheridge has made the league second highest number of saves this season, saving 127 shots. Only West Ham’s Lukasz Fabianski has saved more, managing 140 saves.
• Wilfried Zaha has managed 67 shots for Palace this season, three more than he managed in entirety of last season.
• Andros Townsend has netted twice from outside the box for Palace this season compared to teammate – Zaha who is yet to do so. 

 

Prediction

For Cardiff, this is purely all or nothing given their inferior goal difference in comparison to Brighton so I am expecting a strong performance here. 

Crystal Palace however have been a dangerous team away from Selhurst Park this season, and if Cardiff don’t fully turn up with an attacking performance then I fancy an away win here. 

Prediction: Cardiff City 1-2 Crystal Palace

Jake predicts: Cardiff City 1-0 Crystal Palace

Result: Cardiff City 2-3 Crystal Palace