When Alan Pardew took over as Crystal Palace manager at the beginning of the year, this would have been one fixture which would really stand out as being crucial to their battle for survival. It is clearly still a very important game but it’s also testament to Pardew and the start he’s had to his managerial career at Selhurst Park that it is not as pivotal to their chances of staying up as it may have been. Palace come into this game sitting in 12th , eight points clear of this weekend’s opponents. The usual target of 40 points has been banded about as the target for teams involved in the relegation scrap but it may well be a lot lower than that when you take into account there are nine teams separated by 12 points – a couple more wins would probably see Pardew and his players safe and able to plan for another season in the Premier League.
Last weekend’s defeat at home to Tottenham means it is now just one win in QPR’s last 11 league games. Frustratingly for all involved at the club, particularly manager Chris Ramsey, is that it was another very good performance where they came away empty handed. They have rarely been outclassed, especially at home, but their lack of quality in crucial moments of matches has been their undoing. Too many times individual errors in defence have cost them goals whilst Charlie Austin is the only player that is able to score on a consistent basis. The striker turned in another excellent display and was at the heart of everything positive for ‘Rangers. Games are quickly running out and although they are only three points from safety, the teams above them are picking up points more regularly.
The playing squad at Palace under Pardew is virtually the same as it was under previous manager Neil Warnock. The former West Ham and Newcastle boss has got the players playing in a more disciplined fashion at the back but he has also instilled more confidence in his creative players who have been allowed to play with more freedom. They still lack a player that will score on a regular basis but they have been good at sharing the goals around the team and that is evidenced by only Everton and Newcastle managing more goals amongst the teams in the bottom 10.
QPR’s wretched away from is well document. The Hoops have picked up just three points from their 13 away games in the Premier League. Those points were in the shape of a much needed win away to Sunderland at the beginning of last month. Not only was it their first away win, and subsequently points, it was also their first clean sheet on the road. They have shipped the most goals of any team on their travels, conceding 29, and only one club (Aston Villa) has scored fewer goals away from home.
This appears to be a much more important game for the away side. Although a QPR win would bring Palace right back into the relegation battle, they still have plenty of games to find those five or six points that would surely see them to safety. The same can’t be said for Chris Ramsey’s men and you would think they will be going all out for the three points. Although they are by no means prolific, they have scored in their last six away games. We know they ship a lot of goals on their travels too so both teams to score is the selection.
Both teams to score Evens @ Coral
