C Palace v Swansea preview: Alan Pardew's men still in top-half hunt
Sunday 24 May 2015 15:14, UK
Crystal Palace could finish in the top half of the table with victory over Swansea at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
Alan Pardew has orchestrated a remarkable turnaround since taking over in December. The club have gone from the relegation zone to the possibility of finishing 10th if they secure victory and Everton and West Ham both lose.
They face a stern test in Swansea, though, with Garry Monk's men on a high after a record-breaking season which will see them finish eighth in the table - a feat which earned Monk a nomination for the Manager of the Year award.
Defeat to Manchester City last time out ended their Europa League hopes, but their highest league finish and a record points tally has given the Swans cause for much optimism heading into the summer.
Team news
Trending
- World Darts Championship: Lukeman back level after Rydz's rapid win LIVE!
- Rashford left out of Man Utd squad to face Spurs after 'new challenge' comments
- Transfer Centre LIVE! 'Saudi could offer Rashford way out of Man Utd'
- World Darts Championship schedule: Smith in action on Thursday
- Five years of Arteta: Arsenal transformed but what's next?
- Usyk vs Fury 2: Start time, ring walks, undercard and odds
- Wolves appoint Pereira to succeed O'Neil
- Tottenham vs Man Utd: We'll see - Amorim on Rashford featuring vs Spurs
- The Friedkin Group complete Everton takeover
- Lawson confirmed as Verstappen's Red Bull team-mate for 2025
Crystal Palace have a clean bill of health after boss Alan Pardew announced there are no fresh injury concerns for the final league fixture of the season.
Ki Sung-yueng has had a minor knee operation and is out for Swansea. The South Korean has been struggling in recent weeks and had surgery now to allow him to be fit for the start of Swansea's pre-season preparation.
Monk might hand some of his fringe players rare opportunities, with Leon Britton, Jay Fulton and Modou Barrow all in the frame to start at Selhurst Park.
Opta facts
Crystal Palace have scored just two goals in their last seven matches against Swansea City and never more than once in a game (D3 L4).
Garry Monk has four more points as Swansea manager than predecessor Michael Laudrup, despite managing 11 games fewer.
Bafetimbi Gomis has bagged five goals in his last five Premier League appearances.
Gomis’ seven Premier League goals have won his team 10 points, two more than Diego Costa’s 19 have won for Chelsea.
Glenn Murray has scored seven times and assisted three in his last 11 league games for Palace.
Only Rob Green (132) has made more saves than Lukasz Fabianski (131) this season.
Merson's prediction
I like Palace away from home but I’m not a great fan of them at Selhurst Park. They’ve got so much pace on the break and they absolutely battered Liverpool last weekend, but teams sit back at Selhurst Park and they find it a bit more difficult.
It’s the end of the season and both teams have done absolutely great, they’ll want to go out on a good note, so I think there will be goals. Both teams should just go out and express themselves. Palace have had a lot of pressure this season but they can relax now and should enjoy the final game.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2 (12/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Crystal Palace are Sky Bet’s 6/5 favourites to finish the campaign with a win to Swansea’s price of 21/10, while the draw is 5/2. An open game is expected at Selhurst Park, with over 2.5 goals a odds-on bet at 4/5, while a repeat of the 1-1 played out in the reverse fixture is considered the most likely scoreline again at 5/1. Glenn Murray heads a wide-open goalscorer market at 5/1, with the in-form Bafetimbi Gomis considered the visitors’ biggest threat at 6/1.
