Palace v Sheffield Wednesday

Selhurst Park, Saturday 3.00pm

The Football League

Story so far

It's been a disappointing few weeks in terms of both performance and results for Crystal Palace. Tuesday against Nottingham Forest was comical, the defending at Blackpool was farcical and we no longer look like keeping a clean sheet.

Fortunately, Sheffield Wednesday have a few defensive and goalscoring problems. They've had a reasonable start but their last few games have brought unwanted results.

Palace fans must be wondering how long it will take Jose Fonte to return to the side (from injury) and Matt Lawrence to be dropped again.

Team news

Eagles frontman Craig Beattie is aiming for a return to the side after recovering from an ankle injury sustained in the midweek loss to Nottingham Forest.

Shefki Kuqi replaced him at half-time, later scoring his third goal of the season, and will step in again if he fails to make it.

With Alan Lee, James Scowcroft (both hamstring) and Calvin Andrew (knee) are all on the Selhurst Park treatment table.

Sheffield Wednesday trio Mark Beevers (hip), James O'Connor (hamstring) and Marcus Tudgay (groin) face late fitness tests. But skipper Richard Wood is over his recent illness.

Quotes

Roy Hodgson

"The defending has been a joke. At this level you shouldn't concede goals like that. That's four goals in the last four games that have been absolutely farcical. The two at Blackpool were a disgrace but that second one tonight topped it off.

"They were a bit better second half but the desire to go that extra yard was disappointing from one or two players.

"When the midfield three decided to start playing it made us a better team. You can't play with seven or eight men - it's impossible.

"Five or six people could have cleared the ball and with the first goal, Victor Moses gave away a nothing free-kick.

"We did five or six of those on Saturday which cost us. We talk about it and we don't learn. There are certain things I've got to change but we haven't got a lot of options at the minute."

Sheffield Wednesday - league stats

Full league table

Sheffield Wednesday - current form

Full form table

Our home record v Sheffield Wednesday

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
22/03/2008	League	Sheffield Wednesday	2 - 2	Crystal Palace
15/12/2007	League	Crystal Palace	2 - 1	Sheffield Wednesday
31/03/2007	League	Crystal Palace	1 - 2	Sheffield Wednesday
31/10/2006	League	Sheffield Wednesday	3 - 2	Crystal Palace
11/02/2006	League	Sheffield Wednesday	0 - 0	Crystal Palace

All time results

One to watch

Etienne Esajas

Ref watch

Andy D'Urso.

Last meeting

Sheffield Wednesday 2-2 Palace

Saturday March 22 2008

Sheffield Wednesday: Grant, Hinds, Beevers, Wood, Spurr, Kavanagh, McAllister, Small (Showunmi, 87), Songo'o, Sahar, Burton

Subs not used: Burch, Watson, Bolder, O'Brien

Goals: Sahar 18, Small 68

Bookings: Small

Palace: Speroni, Lawrence, Hill, Hudson, Fonte, Derry (Robinson, 77), Soares (Danns, 59), Watson, Scannell (Hughes, 85), Morrison, Scowcroft

Subs not used: Fletcher, Kudjodji

Goals: Watson 40, Lawrence 90

Bookings: Hill

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