Crystal Palace - Reading, English Division 1
2004-03-06 16.00 CET
Pick: Crystal Palace (Asian -0,25)
Stake: 2%
Odds: 1,82
Final reason for bet
· Crystal Palace is in top of the form table (10 matches).
· Crystal Palace has three straight victories at home.
· Palace top scorer Andy Johnson seems to have fully recovered from the slight knock he sustained two weeks ago.
· Reading has slowly slipped down the table after some less impressive performances..
General comment about the game
At Selhurst Park promotion candidates Crystal Palace and Reading will meet in an important clash on Saturday afternoon. Crystal Palace fine form continues. Now they have nine victories from their twelve latest league games. Their midweek game away to Rotherham was postponed due to the harsh weather so their latest game was last weekend at home to Gillingham. Just as we predicted Palace managed another win. The first half was relatively calm with Palace creating the best chances. Gillingham has to thank their goalkeeper for the goalless halftime result. However, the second half was very exciting for the spectators. In an early incident Palace got defender Mark Hudson sent off and Gillingham earned a penalty. The spot kick was brilliantly saved by Palace goalkeeper Cedric Berthelin but the referee thought that Berthelin moved to early and the penalty was going to be retaken. This time the ball hit the crossbar to the much amusement for the home crowd. This became a real catalyst for the Palace team that very quickly responded with an excellent volley strike from Danny Butterfield. Then Palace reformed themselves to better coupe with the expected pressure from a Gillingham side that had a numerical advantage. But no real chances were created and in all it was a well deserved victory for the Palace team. Palace will have to do without their captain Neil Shipperley (30 apps, 5 goals) who is suspended for this match. Manager Dowie will sweat on the fitness on striker Dougie Freedman (18(7) apps, 9 goals) since he is the likely replacement for Shipperley. Also midfielder Julian Gray (12 apps, 2 goals) is rated doubtful. However, we believe that both will be fit to play since the injuries does not seem to be so crucial. Midfielder Aki Riihilahti (16(7) apps, 0 goal) is still sidelined since he got injured in the Derby clash two weeks ago.
Promotion candidates Reading has slowly slipped down the table after their excellent start of the campaign. Currently they are at eighth place, two points ahead of Crystal Palace and only one point behind a playoff spot. They are obviously still in the promotion race but needs to collect more points from now on than they have done recently. Since middle of December they have played twelve league games and only managed to win four and in all collect 15 points. During this time they have also lost at home to Saturday’s opponent Crystal Palace with 0-3. In midweek they played away to fellow promotion chasers Preston and lost with 2-1. Preston was definitely the better team but found it hard to score, for example they hit the crossbar twice in first half after good performances. So when Reading equalised in the 82nd minute by John Salako (20(5) apps, 2 goals) it looked as Preston had spoiled two points down the drain. However, a second goal from David Healy in the dying minutes sealed a well deserved victory for the home team.
Striker Nicky Forster (27 apps, 7 goals) is still sidelined with the injury he suffered in middle of January. Striker Dave Kitson (0(5) apps, 0 goals) from Cambridge may replace and do his first start for his new team. Manager Steve Coppell will also have problems at full back since Graeme Murty (26(1) apps, 0 goal) is unlikely to be fit for the game and the natural replacement Ricky Newman (16(5) apps, 0 goal) is suspended. Furthermore midfielder Kevin Watson (10(10) apps, 0 goal) is also sidelined with an injury.
In form Crystal Palace must win this game not to loose ground on their fellow promotion chasers Reading. We believe that their good form together with home advantage will decide the outcome of this game. However, since Reading also is a good team that can perform well (even if that has been more seldom the last couple of months) we will suggest a more careful bet than a straight bet on Palace. An Asian handicap giving half the stake back if the match ends in a draw is or suggestion. We keep the stake quite low since this is a game between two promotion chasers and that Palace will miss their skipper. 2% is suggested.
Recent games for home team
|
2004-02-28 |
Crystal Palace-Gillingham |
1-0 |
|
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 |
Recent games for away team
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2004-03-02 |
Preston-Reading |
2-1 |
|
2004-02-28 |
Reading-Sheffield United |
2-1 |
|
2004-02-24 |
Reading-Burnley |
2-2 |
|
2004-02-21 |
Gillingham-Reading |
0-1 |
|
2004-02-07 |
Rotherham-Reading |
5-1 |
Home table
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Crystal Palace |
17 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
25-22 |
24 |
Away table
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Reading |
17 |
6 |
3 |
8 |
17-24 |
21 |
Links for this game
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// SportsObserver 040305
