Preview: Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa

Two sides whose starts have mirrored each other face off on Saturday afternoon with Palace looking for their first home win of the season.

Both these teams started off with an away win over a newly-promoted side before falling to narrow defeats against teams from last season’s top four.

Alan Pardew has called on his side to improve their home form but they will have to do so here still without Julian Speroni, who remains on the sidelines alongside Marouane Chamakh and Fraizer Campbell.

Connor Wickham and Patrick Bamford go in search of their first goals for their new club against a Villa backline that has conceded just once so far.

Jack Grealish is set to make a return to the Aston Villa squad, although his involvement in the match is likely to be off the bench rather than from the start.

Rudy Gestede is hoping for a first start for the visitors after two substitute appearances, with pressure on Scott Sinclair and Gabby Agbonlahor to get off the mark for the season.

League Position: Crystal Palace – 7th; Aston Villa – 10th
Last Meeting: Aston Villa 0-0 Crystal Palace, January 1, 2015
Form: Crystal Palace – LW; Aston Villa – LW
Key Men: Crystal Palace – Yohan Cabaye; Aston Villa – Scott Sinclair

Shoot says: Crystal Palace 1-0 Aston Villa