Palace v Sunderland

Selhurst Park, Saturday 5.30pm

Story so far

Data supplied by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Select and manage your own team of stars at fantasy.premierleague.com or with FIFA Ultimate Team for FIFA 14.

It may be only the second weekend in the Premier League, but this clash at Selhurst Park could already be billed as a six-pointer with neither side able to muster a win as of yet. and with both teams only scoring one goal apiece in the league thus far, uppingtheir accuracy in front of goal will be paramount.

The Black Cats task will not be made any easier by the presence of Joel Ward in Crystal Palace’s backline. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index the English right-back has made 11 tackles – the most of any defender. This sort of dogged determination is exactly what the Palace faithful will be yearning for, as they brace themselves for the relegation scrap that they have in store.

On the opposite flank, Dean Moxey is certainly putting in his own defensive shift making 8 tackles in the first two games, second only behind his team mate.

Crystal Palace’s defensive feats have also been aided by the contribution of Damien Delaney. He has made 23 clearances so far this season, the eighth most in the league.

Midfield general Mile Jedinak has also made his fair share of defensive clearances.He cleared the ball 14 times against Stoke, showcasing his ability to protect the back four.

Sunderland have struggled for goals in the first couple of games of the season, and midfielder Cabral will have to up his game to improve Sunderland’s fortunes. Of the 4 shots he has attempted, he has failed to hit the target once. Only Hatem Ben Arfa has a worse ratio.

Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio has invested in foreign talent this Summer, with 10 foreign players arriving to bolster the ranks. Jack Colback is one of the English players to remain, and he’s certainly proving his worth withb a 100% tackle success rate. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index he has won all 5 of his tackles.

Adam Johnson may have considered himself unlucky to have missed out on Roy Hodgson’s England squad, as, according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, his 4 crosses are the second most in the league. His battle with the Eagles’ outstanding fullbacks is something to really wet the appetite ahead of Saturday.

Hodgson may have been looking at Johnson’s shooting so far this season, as the former Manchester City wideman has had 3 shots and failed to hit the target once. Only Hatem Ben Arfa, Cabral and Nacer Chadil have had more efforts without working the keeper. Johnson did, however, manage to find the net in the League Cup midweek – He’s 8/1 with 888sport.com to score the first goal on Saturday and continue this rich vein of form.

At the other end of the pitch, Sunderland defender Ondrej Celustka has much to work on following the opening two games of the season. Of the thirteen tackles he attempted, he only managed to complete 7 of them.

Team news

Crystal Palace boss Ian Holloway will replace the XI that played against Bristol City in the midweek Capital One Cup tie with a stronger line-up for the Premier League.

Winger Jerome Thomas is still missing because of an ankle problem, along with Yannick Bolasie (hamstring) who is also out. Paddy McCarthy (groin) and forward Glenn Murray (knee) continue their rehabilitation.

Jason Puncheon is ready to make his home debut, while evergreen striker Kevin Phillips could come up against his old club.

Sunderland midfielder Stephane Sessegnon won't be playing after being arrested and charged with drink driving.

Forward Steven Fletcher is set for a first appearance in more than five months after recovering from ankle surgery.

Crystal Palace (from): Speroni, Gabbidon, Moxey, Ward, Delaney, Gayle, Puncheon, Phillips, Dikgacoi, Jedinak, Campana, Williams, Chamakh, Garvan, Ramage, Alexander, Wilbraham, Dobbie.

Sunderland (from): Westwood, Mannone, Celustka, Cuellar, O'Shea, Diakite, Roberge, Colback, Cabral, Gardner, Giaccherini, Johnson, Larsson, Ba, Karlsson, Vaughan, Mavrias, Altidore, Fletcher, Wickham, Ji.

Quotes

Roy Hodgson

"I am stressed to hell - not when I watch my team, not when I’m out on the grass coaching but just trying to say “Who’s this? Where has he come from? What’s his name? How do you spell it?

"I almost went to France on Friday night to watch a player, but I told my chairman I couldn’t possibly do that because it would have disrupted my lads before we played at Stoke. In the end I didn’t do it, but now we’re not going to buy that player.’

"I am sitting up until 1am every night watching DVDs of people that have been recommended to us. What people are asking for is totally unrealistic. We have got to find more players, but we have seven more days. Ask yourself if that’s right.

"The answer is to scrap the window, make it like it used to be that you can sign players at any time, and then the ones who have just come up might have a chance of catching some of these big people. But it won’t happen. They write their own rules."

Paolo Di Canio

“Crystal Palace made 11 changes for their cup tied, and that could not be a clearer indication where their priorities lie – they want to get points in the league, to save their strength for that.

“They know that if they don’t win against us, that that doesn’t mean they won’t stay up, because this is still the start of the season. But it is obvious that a home game against a team around them, they will regard as crucial.

“I don’t want to be arrogant, but I feel that even if we lose another one or two, we have the squad to cope. But when you are newly-promoted, you need to get that first win on the board otherwise players become anxious, and fans become anxious and then you have big problems.

“So for them it is a ‘must-win’, ‘must-win’, ‘must-win’ game, and we have to be ready for that because it is also important for us to win to get our first league victory of the season. We will go there looking for the win in the game, even though we accept we might draw or lose the game.

“But we know Palace’s strengths and weaknesses, and we will prepare a good strategy, but what is key is the players’ attitude – they have to be completely focused because we know we are going to find a very hard environment.

"Ian Holloway is a very good manager, and I like him. I have followed his career, and he has had setbacks, but he has overcome them. He’s a good character, but what gets underestimated about him I think is his tactical skill.

“Crystal Palace deserved to come up and play in this division this season – they beat what was put in front of them in the play-offs, and they were worthy winners.

“They have age and experience, and also youth, and it is an interesting blend. The young players are aggressive, and have energy and ambition, and that is a good thing – it could be the secret of their survival if they stay up.”

“But they also have someone like Kevin Phillips who is a great professional - not someone who creates problems for their manager - and who can really help the young ones but also has the experience to hurt teams.”

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Sunderland - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
16th	2	0	1	1	1

Full league table

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Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
30/01/2007	League	Sunderland	0 - 0	Crystal Palace
22/12/2006	League	Crystal Palace	1 - 0	Sunderland
08/01/2005	FA Cup	Sunderland	2 - 1	Crystal Palace
17/05/2004	League	Sunderland	2 - 1	Crystal Palace
14/05/2004	League	Crystal Palace	3 - 2	Sunderland

All time results

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Last meeting

Sunderland 0-0 Palace

Tuesday January 30 2007

Sunderland: Ward, Whitehead, Nosworthy, Evans, Collins, Edwards (Leadbitter 66), Miller (Murphy 77), Yorke, Hysen (Wallace 73), Connolly, Stokes.

Subs Not Used: Fulop, Simpson

Palace: Kiraly, Hudson, Butterfield, Cort, Lawrence, Green (Freedman 76), Kennedy, Fletcher, McAnuff, Ifill (Soares 74), Kuqi.

Subs Not Used: Speroni, Ward, Morrison

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