Crystal Palace vs AFC Bournemouth: Preview & Prediction

Crystal Palace and AFC Bournemouth meet at Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon, with both sides in the bottom three and eyeing their first Premier League points of the season.

Alan Pardew’s Palace, who have had to deal with the departures of Yannik Bolasie, Dwight Gale and Mile Jedinak in an indifferent summer, slipped to two defeats from their opening two league games.

The most recent top-flight reverse came last Saturday, as Victor Wanyama’s late header proved the difference for the Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

While the Eagles’ Premier League goal scoring issues have been well-documented, the £27m summer signing of striker Christian Benteke from Liverpool is a sign that Pardew will hope to address the difficulties that his side have endured recently.

The Belgium international made his Palace debut in the EFL Cup triumph over League Two side Blackpool at Selhurst Park, as Pardew looks to steer his side to a first league win of the season.

Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth side make the trip to the capital from Dorset themselves having suffered two defeats on the spin in England’s top-tier.

An opening day defeat at home to Manchester United was followed by a 1-0 defeat against West Ham United at London Stadium last Sunday, after Michail Antonio ensured the Cherries were beaten, albeit with ten men.

The visitors will hope that they will not endure “second season syndrome” after concluding their maiden Premier League term in 16th position, so a win in South-East London against an out of sorts Palace would really kick-start their 2016/17 campaign.

Like Palace, Bournemouth also made it through to the EFL Cup third-round, seeing off Morecambe at the Globe Arena on Wednesday. Their attention now turns to getting back on track in the Premier League, after a difficult start.

Bournemouth have happy memories of their last visit to South-East London, when Marc Pugh and Benik Afobe both scored in a 2-1 victory over Palace back in February.

The Eagles’ latest addition, Benteke – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Team News:

Benteke is expected to make his Premier League debut for Palace on Saturday, following on from his 45 minute cameo in the EFL Cup.

Manager Pardew has a major decision to make surrounding Wilfried Zaha. The winger has been linked with Tottenham Hotspur, having told Palace he wants to move to the club north of the river Thames.

However, Palace claim that there will be no deal for Zaha to depart, despite the player wishing to do so.

As for Bournemouth, Howe will have to deal without the suspended Harry Arter, who was dismissed in the defeat at West Ham.

Tyrone Mings and Junior Stanislas remain out injured, with both players due back in September.

League Positions: Crystal Palace – 19th (0pts); AFC Bournemouth – 20th (0pts)
Last Meeting: Crystal Palace 1-2 AFC Bournemouth – (February 2, 2016)
League Form: Crystal Palace – LWLLLL; AFC Bournemouth – LLDLLL
Key Men: Crystal Palace – Christian Benteke; AFC Bournemouth – Callum Wilson
Shoot Says: Crystal Palace 1-1 AFC Bournemouth