All articles by: Jools Jordan-Probert

Crystal Palace vs Hull City – Match Preview

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Crystal Palace vs Hull City – Match Preview

FA Premier League, Selhurst Park, London 12pm

Both teams’ penultimate game of the season is a crucial relegation clash as Marco Silva’s Hull travel to Sam Allardyce’s Crystal Palace.

Premier League survival is worth an astronomical amount to the club themselves, the players in terms of their own career aspirations and also the surround area for the clubs too.
Both Crystal Palace and Hull will be desperate to not be the 3rd team relegated with the already confirmed Middlesbrough and Sunderland.

Hull’s odds-defying 2-0 home defeat against Sunderland last time out has shifted the power into Swansea’s hand in the battle to avoid relegation – especially after The Swans’ win against the same team by the same score-line to move 4 points away from danger this weekend.

The final day opponents for Hull are 2nd place in-waiting Spurs and a 7 goal swing in goal difference against Swansea needed to manoeuvre will surely prove an impossible mountain to climb – especially as a draw in this fixture will see Crystal Palace safe.

A matter of weeks ago it seemed as if Sam Allardyce had dragged Palace to almost certain safety with astonishing victories against Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. Now, however, after losing 3 consecutive matches a defeat to Hull here will see just a solitary point separate The Eagles from both Hull and Swansea going in to the final day of the season.
Pair that with a trip to Old Trafford in waiting and this fixture’s importance is amplified tenfold.

Team News
The Eagles have several key players all struggling for match fitness; with Yohan Cabaye, Scott Dann and James Tomkins all doubts. Andros Townsend is currently also battling to be in contention with an Achilles issue. Joel Ward’s broken nose sustained against Manchester City also leaves him at 50/50.

For Hull – reinvigorated winger Lazar Markovic will be out for the remainder of the season after picking up an ankle injury against Sunderland.
In brighter news; defender Omar Elabdellaoui comes back into the squad after missing 7 matches with a back problem.

Zaha has proven his quality this season with a number of clubs looking to him this summer

Zaha has proven his quality this season with a number of clubs looking to him this summer Photo Credit: skysports.com

Players To Watch 
The two stand-out players for this match will both be wingers; hoping to create moments of magic for their sides.

Despite Palace’s struggles; Wilfried Zaha is undoubtedly enjoying his best season in the top flight and has a brilliant return of 6 goals and 9 assists to show for it in the Premier League – only the elite group of De Bruyne, Sigurdsson, Eriksen, Fabregas and Sanchez have more this campaign. The general disappointment amongst English fans and pundits after Zaha claimed allegiance for Ivory Coast illustrates how highly rated the unpredictable winger is. If the Ivorian plays to his full attacking potential then Hull will be in for an extremely difficult 90 minutes.

Kamil Grosicki will try to keep the Palace defence busy

Kamil Grosicki will try to keep the Palace defence busy photo Credit: teamtalk.com

Kamil Grosicki was brought in by Hull in January in a rather under-the-radar fashion but recent performances have seen the Polish international emerge as one of Marco Silva’s most valuable players. Testament to this is the winger’s recent PFA Fans’ Premier League Player of the Month for April. Grosicki at his best is an out-and-out winger with genuine pace and ability to glide past players and create disruption in the final third. He will be pivotal to Hull confronting their woeful away record and getting a result at Selhurst Park.

Summary
Tensions will be high in this encounter as both sides will be frantically trying to get the much desired result.

It is difficult to call – Hull’s disastrous away record has seen the East Yorkshire club only amass a dire total of 6 points from 18 games all season. Marco Silva’s side’s brilliant home record has unquestionably been the factor that’s given Hull a fighting chance.
On the other hand; Crystal Palace have lost all 3 of their matches against opposition that were in the relegation zone at the time – including a horrendous 4-0 defeat at the hands of bottom side Sunderland.

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  • Skybet RequestAbet 11/1 to 28/1 – Benteke & Zaha to score, Crystal Palace to win and Robertson to be carded – 28/1
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Fulham vs Reading – Match Preview

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Fulham vs Reading – Match Preview 

Skybet Championship, Craven Cottage, Fulham 5.30pm

 

The Championship play-offs commence as 6th play 3rd – Fulham v Reading – with both teams eager and confident of play-off glory to enter the promised land of the Premier League.

Both sides can reflect on stellar seasons in an extremely difficult division under likeable managers Slavisa Jokanovic and Jaap Stam respectively – but will have their sights firmly set on each other’s teams and the path to Wembley come kick-off.

Fulham are the side that come into the fixture in better form, just. The Cottagers have won 5 of their last 6 matches compared to Reading’s 4 victories in the same period.
This late resurgent run from The Whites paired with Leeds’ simultaneous meltdown allowed Jokanovic’s men to claim the final play-off spot as their own – finishing in 6th with style with a 5 point lead over the Yorkshire club.
However; the team finishing in 6th place in the Championship has only been promoted just once in the last 11 seasons – Blackpool in 2009/10 – so Fulham will be up against it to achieve their goals.

Surprisingly, Reading have the 5th worst goal difference away from home in the entire division; not helped by remarkable defeats such as the 5-0 loss in this very fixture in December. Stam will do everything he can to eliminate that level of performance; especially after a similar display in a 7-1 humiliation at Norwich City just a few weeks ago.

Despite this Reading have had the most consistent season in the Championship outside of the runaway top 2 of Newcastle and Brighton – The Royals’ 4 points gap ahead of Sheffield Wednesday in 4th suggests as much. Having the 2nd best home form in the league (with a division leading tally of just home defeats) is a large part of that and as long as Reading take a decent result away from Craven Cottage they will be confident of progressing.

Reading will be hoping to rectify the heartbreak of their last campaign too – a 4-2 defeat against Swansea in the 2010/11 play-off final will undoubtedly live vividly in the memories of Royals’ fans.

Team News
Fulham have a fully fit squad bar the exception of defenders Michael Madi and Ragnar Sigurdsson; the former treating an ankle injury and the latter a hamstring problem. Jokanovic also expects both to miss the return leg but is hopeful of the pair’s return should Fulham make it to the final.

Reading are nearly fully firing with captain Paul McShane (calf) and midfielder Joey van den Berg (hamstring) both returning to play 45 minutes against Burton. Despite missing that match with a groin injury; Gareth McCleary is set to return. Both Stephen Quinn and Deniss Rakels are also fighting to be in contention. Callum Harriott is ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Tom Cairney has been in fantastic form for Fulham this season

Tom Cairney has been in fantastic form for Fulham this season Photo Credit: skysports.com

Players to Watch
Tom Cairney has been one of the Championship’s outstanding midfielders this season. His performances this campaign convinced Scotland manager Gordon Strachan to give Cairney his first international cap. A switch to central midfield had provided Cairney with the freedom to be an effective creative force and Fulham’s No.10 has duly obliged with 11 assists in the league this campaign. Add that tally to the 12 goals that Cairney has provided and Reading will undoubtedly have highlighted the Scottish international as a key threat to nullify.

Yann Kermorgant's goals have Reading in a fine position for promotion

Yann Kermorgant’s goals have Reading in a fine position for promotion Photo Credit: skysports.com

Reading’s Yann Kermogant may be 35 years of age but his influence on the pitch has not diminished; 18 goals in a brilliant season have helped fire The Royals to a brilliant 3rd place finish in the league. Much to the dismay of Reading fans the forward has confirmed his intentions to retire at the end of the 2017/18 season but will be remembered fondly – the Frenchman has found the net 9 times in his last 9 appearances including crucial winners against Burton Albion and play-off rivals Leeds.

 

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West Bromwich Albion vs Chelsea – Match Preview

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West Bromwich Albion vs Chelsea – Match Preview

FA Premier League, The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, 7.45pm

 

Chelsea are seeking to seal the Premier League title with victory over a stagnating West Brom at The Hawthorns.
Considering Spurs’ 1-0 defeat against rivals West Ham last Friday; Chelsea knew a victory over Middlesbrough on Sunday would take them a potential 90 minutes from glory and they did so by comfortably dispatching the North-East side 3-0. 7 points separate Chelsea from nearest rivals Spurs with just 3 matches remaining.

West Brom have also had an exemplary season by their own standards and currently find themselves in a lofty 8th position in the Premier League.Exactly how good their season has been can be described using recent form; The Baggies have only gained 5 points from the last possible 27, with just one victory and 6 losses in that period. Even more worryingly; Tony Pulis’ men have only scored in 2 of those 9 matches – highlighting a real issue in attack moving forward.

Johnny Evans Looks set to miss the game due to injury

Johnny Evans Looks set to miss the game due to injury Photo Credit: skysports.com

Team News

Key West Brom defender Johnny Evans was taken off in The Baggies’ 2-2 draw with Burnley last week with an ankle injury and looks as if he will be unavailable for the game.
Matt Phillips and Hal Robson-Kanu both have hamstring problems with the former ruled out and the Welsh international a doubt but likely to make the squad.

Chelsea have a fully fit squad to pick from as PFA and Football Writers’ Player of the Year N’Golo Kante is set to return to the side for Chelsea after missing the victory against Middlesbrough. This will provide a headache for Conte as Kante’s replacement, Cesc Fabregas, produced a man-of-the-match display in that game.

Eden Hazard has been pivotal in Chelsea's charge for the title

Eden Hazard has been pivotal in Chelsea’s charge for the title Photo Credit: skysports.com

Player to watch
After a dismal campaign last time around; Eden Hazard has been back to his usual dazzling displays and has 15 goals and a further 5 assists in the Premier League to his name this season. The Belgian winger has become revitalised under Conte and with his outrageous dribbling ability and ingenious creation, he has looked the division’s deadliest forward for large parts of the season – a performance of similar impact will see Chelsea surely win and be crowned Champions.

Summary
Chelsea are the overwhelming favourites and have scarcely slipped up all year – only 5 losses all season with 4 of them coming from rivals in the top 6 – and many expect it to be business as usual for The Blues with a full squad at peak momentum.
However; West Brom have won 3 of their last 5 against Chelsea at The Hawthorns and will want to provide a stern test to round off the season.
Additionally; Chelsea have not completed back-to-back victories against The Baggies in 10 attempts – a 1-0 victory in December providing an opportunity to stop that record continuing.

Should Chelsea go on to win this fixture; they would emerge as Premier League Champions for the 5th time, only Manchester United will have won more with 13 – solidifying The Blues as an English powerhouse.
By winning, Chelsea will have amassed 42 points away from home (the highest in the division) which has not been matched since Manchester United in 2011/12 (a year in which they did not win the title).

By winning the title; Conte would become both the fourth Italian manager to do so (after Carlo Ancelotti in 2009/10, Roberto Mancini in 2011/12 and Claudio Ranieri in 2015/16) and the fourth manager to win the league in his first season (after Mourinho in 2004/05, Ancelotti in 2009/10 and Manuel Pellegrini in 2013/14).

 

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