Crystal Palace look to continue their hot form against relegation-battling Ipswich Town.
Victory will see Palace climb to 11th before Brentford play in the teatime kick-off, whilst Ipswich can move to within two points of safety with a win.
Team News
Jean-Philippe Mateta is ruled out for Palace after he suffered a head injury during their FA Cup victory over Millwall last weekend.
Will Hughes is suspended whilst Cheick Doucoure, Chadi Riad (both knee) and Joel Ward (calf) remain sidelined.
Ipswich will be without defender, Axel Tuanzebe due to a muscle injury which required surgery following his half-time substitution in their FA Cup exit at Nottingham Forest.
Christian Walton (groin), Cameron Burgess (calf), Kalvin Phillips (calf), Julio Enciso and Omari Hutchinson (both knee) face late fitness tests.
Arijanet Muric (shoulder), Sammie Szmodics (ankle), Wes Burns (ACL), Conor Chaplin (knee) and Chiedozie Ogbene (Achilles) remain ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Palace host Ipswich at Selhurst Park on Saturday 8 March at 3pm GMT, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Palace have avoided defeat in five previous Premier League meetings against Ipswich (W4, D1).
- Ipswich lost their two previous Premier League trips to Palace by an aggregate score of 6-1 (L2).
- Palace have scored six goals in their last three Premier League clashes against Ipswich without conceding (W3).
- Three of Ismaila Sarr’s six league goals for Palace this season were scored at home.
- Ipswich have claimed just four points in their five league visits to London-based opposition this season (W1, D1, L3).
Prediction
Unbeaten in five of their last six matches in all competitions and having finally won two consecutive home games, Palace seem to have found their form even though they were clinical if scruffy at times in a well-deserved win over Millwall with some solid defensive management at times.
Mateta though is a huge loss up front but with home advantage and just one league match this month, I can’t see them suffering too much with Eddie Nketiah capable of filling in here where Palace will be favourites.
Ipswich though need to take the confidence and heart from a positive attacking display at Forest despite their heartbreak on penalties, because if they can apply that here but tighten up more defensively, they could give themselves a decent shot at staying up if not taking the relegation fight to the final fortnight.
I however do feel that Palace really should have too much for Ipswich here but it will be hopefully be a competitive battle if the visitors can be as solid defensively as we saw at Forest.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-1 Ipswich
Result: Crystal Palace 1-0 Ipswich
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