Crystal Palace - Gillingham, English Division 1
2004-02-28 16.00 CET
Pick: Crystal Palace
Stake: 3%
Odds: 1,62
Final reason for bet
· Crystal Palace is in good form and is now in the promotion race.
· Crystal Palace has been rejuvenated since new manager Dowie arrived in December.
· Gillingham is in bad form.
· Gillingham has a very long injury list.
General comment about the game
Promotion hopefuls Crystal Palace will take on struggling Gillingham on Saturday in the English division one. Crystal Palace is in a good run with eight victories from their latest eleven league games. This has put them back in the promotion race. Before the season Crystal Palace was one of many teams that were supposed to challenge for a playoff spot but after a very bad period of only two victories from 19 games during the autumn this seemed to be wasted. However, lately this has changed because of their good form which has resulted in many victories and a real climb up the table. Currently they are in 10th place only three points from a playoff spot. One of the main reasons for their current good run is their impressive goal scoring with 28 goals during this period. The team has played with much more confidence since their new manager Iain Dowie started his job in December. In last weekend´s game away against Derby, Palace was favourites to another victory. It all began very well with midfielder Michael Hughes scoring his third goal of the season. However, Derby fought back and two goals in second half earned the home team the victory. Manager Dowie was obviously disappointed with the loss and thought that they earned more especially since they played very good the first 60 minutes. However, the last 30 minutes was the worst the team had played since his arrival. This was also his first loss since his premiere against Millwall. Top striker Andy Johnson (29 apps, 20 goals) is sweating to be fit for Saturday’s clash. Johnson is in tremendous form having hit the goal on 14 occasions since Palace good run began in mid December. Johnson had to come off in first half in last weekends clash against Derby. Also, midfielder Aki Riihilahti (23 apps, 0 goal) injured himself in Derby. He will definitely miss Saturday’s game and is likely to be sidelined for three weeks. The Finnish international has been at Palace for three years and is now playing some of his best football of his Palace career so it is a blow for the team to have to be without him in this crucial stage of the season. No other important players are missing.
Gillingham currently resides in 20th place, five points clear of the drop zone. Their form is not good. They have only won one game during 2004 from six attempts and that was at home against 23rd placed Bradford. The other games have been four losses and a draw. The draw came in midweek when they played against relegation battlers Nottingham. The match ended in a dull 0-0. The point was well deserved by Gillingham, especially the defence with young central defender Leon Johnson shined. The main problem for Gillingham is their goal scoring. Only bottom of the table teams Bradford and Wimbledon has produced fewer goals than Gillingham. The problem has not become less since they sold Marlon King (11 apps, 4 goals) to Nottingham in November and Paul Shaw (21 apps, 6 goals) to Sheffield United in the beginning of January. During 2004 they have only produced two goals from six matches played. Gillingham has major doubts over defender John Hills (24 apps, 1 goal) who limped out of last game against Nottingham. He has now joined their long injury list that sees several first team regulars such as goalkeeper Jason Brown (22 apps), defenders Ian Cox (26 apps, 0 goal), Chris Hope (28 apps, 2 goals) and David Perpetuini (20 apps, 2 goals), midfielders Nyron Nosworthy (27 apps, 2 goals) and Mark Saunders (18 apps, 1 goal) and striker Tommy Johnson (15 apps, 3 goals). Manager Hessenthaler has to call upon youngster ahead of Saturdays clash. However, we must bear in mind that all but Hills was absent in last game, so except for the possible absence of Hills the team will be unchanged.
An in form Crystal Palace will under normal circumstances win this match easily against an injury plagued Gillingham. Palace has produced lots of goals lately and Gillingham the reverse. If Palace manage to break down the young a newly combined Gillingham defence the team will most certainly win again. Considering that Palace may have to be without top scorer Johnson and that Gillingham made a good defensive performance in last game we go for a medium stake, 3%.
Recent games for home team
|
2004-02-21 |
Derby-Crystal Palace |
2-1 |
|
2004-02-14 |
Crystal Palace-Stoke |
6-3 |
|
2004-02-07 |
Sheffield United-Crystal Palace |
0-3 |
|
2004-01-31 |
Crystal Palace-Wimbledon |
3-1 |
|
2004-01-24 |
Bradford-Crystal Palace |
1-2 |
Recent games for away team
|
2004-02-25 |
Nottingham-Gillingham |
0-0 |
|
2004-02-21 |
Gillingham-Reading |
0-1 |
|
2004-02-07 |
Burnley-Gillingham |
1-0 |
|
2004-01-31 |
Gillingham-Bradford |
1-0 |
|
2004-01-17 |
Derby-Gillingham |
2-1 |
Home table
|
Crystal Palace |
16 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
24-22 |
21 |
Away table
|
Gillingham |
15 |
3 |
6 |
6 |
16-23 |
15 |
Links for this game
|
Crystal Palace: |
|
|
Gillingham: |
|
|
|
|
|
Livescore: |
|
|
|
|
|
League: |
|
|
|
|
// SportsObserver 040227
