Palace v Ipswich Town

Selhurst Park, Saturday 3.00pm

Selhurst Park

Story so far

With two ex-Ipswich strikers on our books in Shefki Kuqi and Alan Lee, we should have a decent chance of scoring (with the curse of the ex-player and all).

We did reasonably well against a tough Leicester side on Wednesday night. The defence was solid and the ball was knocked around pretty nicely at times. We still don't look that convincing going forward but at least the squad is returning to full strength.

Ipswich are sitting just below us on points in the table. We've both got pretty similar goals for/against column on the table which should mean for a tight game - although games aren't won on paper, as we all know.

Team news

Defender Jose Fonte returns to the Crystal Palace line-up after serving his one-match ban ban in the midweek FA Cup win over Leicester.

John Oster, who this week signed a new deal until the end of the season, is available after overcoming a calf injury.

Victor Moses is a doubt after hobbling off with an ankle injury against the Foxes, so goalscorer from that game Sean Scannell is ready to take his place.

Ipswich's on-loan Fulham defender Moritz Volz is a doubt after sustaining a groin injury. Ivan Campo sufered a calf muscle injury against Sheffield Wednesday last weekend misses out.

Ipswich Town - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
11th	27	9	9	9	36

Full league table

Our home record v Ipswich Town

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
36	13	14	9	57	45

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
27/09/2008	League	Ipswich Town	1 - 1	Crystal Palace
12/02/2008	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 1	Ipswich Town
26/08/2007	League	Ipswich Town	1 - 0	Crystal Palace
03/02/2007	League	Crystal Palace	2 - 0	Ipswich Town
05/08/2006	League	Ipswich Town	1 - 2	Crystal Palace

All time results

One to watch

Kevin Lisbie

Ipswich Town's top scorer

Pablo Counago - 8 goals

Ipswich Town's bad boy

Moritz Volz - 7 0

"Why would we want him at Palace? He's useless". Remember comments like this in the summer? After his first successful injury free run at Colchester, Lisbie is still looking strong.

After spending about 12 years at Charlton, being continually being overlooked and loaned out to Championship sides, Lisbie is doing well for himself.

Someone was always going to take a chance with Lisbie after his successful period at Colchester and he's already repaying his manager with 7 goals this season - 9 short of the tally he notched up for Charlton during his significant period of time there.

To be fair to Lisbie - he's always looked capable of scoring goals but he's just never had the fitness to grasp the chance.

The speedy striker might have what it takes to breach a Palace defence which has been nothing short of strong for the last 12 months now, with the occasional blip chucked in.

With his pace and ability both on and off the ball, it's Lisbie will pose a threat to most Championship defences.

Ref watch

C Penton

Last meeting

Ipswich Town 1-1 Palace

Saturday September 27 2008

Ipswich Town: Richard Wright, Bruce, Naylor, McAuley, David Wright, Norris (Garvan, 57), Sumulikoski (Campo, 71), Miller, Walters, Lisbie, Stead (Counago, 62)

Subs not used: Supple, Balkestein

Goals: Stead 23

Bookings: Bruce, Miller

Palace: Speroni, Butterfield, McCarthy, Fonte, Hill, Carle (Fletcher, 81), Watson, Derry, Ifill (Kuqi, 68), Moses, Beattie (Scannell, 74)

Subs not used: Lawrence, Oster

Goals: Moses 25

Bookings: Beattie, Watson