Crystal Palace v West Brom preview: Eagles chase fifth straight win

Alan Pardew's Crystal Palace will look to continue their impressive run of form on Saturday, when former manager Tony Pulis returns to Selhurst Park.

Pulis left Palace two days before the start of the Premier League season, taking over at the Baggies on New Year’s Day.

The Eagles have won their last four games, propelling them to 11th in the Premier League; a miraculous achievement given their position when Pardew took over from Neil Warnock.

West Brom have also improved under the stewardship of Pulis, but have slipped closer towards the drop zone after three straight defeats.

Team news

Palace boss Alan Pardew will have the same squad at his disposal which thrashed Sunderland last weekend.

That means the Eagles will still be without strikers Marouane Chamakh and Fraizer Campbell, who both remain sidelined with hamstring problems.

Lee Chung-yong (foot) is a long-term absentee and Jordon Mutch (thigh) is out, but Pape Souare should be fit despite being forced off during the 4-1 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light last time out.

Brown Ideye could miss out for West Brom as he is struggling with a knee injury. The forward will be assessed but Callum McManaman is fit after a foot injury, with the former Wigan winger an unused substitute in last week's 3-2 home defeat by Leicester.

Youssouf Mulumbu remains banned for the Baggies and goalkeeper Ben Foster is a long-term injury victim following cruciate knee ligament damage in March.

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Stats

The Eagles have won both of their previous Premier League games against West Brom at Selhurst Park, scoring exactly three goals on both occasions.

Glenn Murray has scored six goals and assisted three more in his last six Premier League appearances.

Alan Pardew has now won 51 points in the Premier League this season; enough to put him eighth in the table, had he been at one club all season.

Tony Pulis is looking to avoid losing four Premier League games in a row for the first time since he was Stoke manager (he did so four times with the Potters).

West Brom conceded seven goals in Pulis's first nine Premier League games in charge but have conceded 10 in the last three.

Merson's prediction

I watched Palace last week and they were sensational. They were in Brazil’s colours and Alan Pardew’s men played like the Samba Boys at Sunderland. The Eagles are flying at the moment and this will be a very hard game for West Brom.

Tony Pulis's side have hit a sticky patch. They need a result quickly because they are in danger of being sucked into the relegation battle. Unfortunately for them, I can't see them getting the win they need against an in-form Palace.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (7/1 with Sky Bet)

Betting

Crystal Palace are expected to continue their roll, with Sky Bet making them odds-on (10/11) to beat West Brom. The Baggies are 3/1 to bounce back with a win, or 12/5 to draw.

According to the ‘correct score’ odds, a 1-0 win for the hosts is the most likely outcome, though it’s 10/11 for both teams to score. Glenn Murray is 5/4 to continue his scoring streak and 9/2 to break the deadlock, while Saido Berahino is West Brom’s most likeliest scorer at 12/5.

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