Crystal Palace entertain Spurs in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday at Selhurst Park. Here are Three Keys to this fixture. Click here to bet on the match.
Spurs goal scoring form v Palace struggles in front of goals at home
Crystal Palace have been on a bad run lately with just two wins in six games, with one of those wins coming against League Two side Grimsby Town in the third round of the FA Cup. Furthermore, they have struggled to score goals at home. The Eagles have scored 17 times on their travels and just 6 times at Selhurst Park in the league and must be very clinical when they play their local rivals.
Spurs come into this game after a heartbreaking loss in the EFL Cup at Chelsea on penalties. However, they won their last FA Cup tie in dominant fashion, thrashing League Two outfit Tranmere Rovers 7-0 away from home. This derby has notoriously been a low scoring affair. However, Palace’s doggedness makes them a difficult proposition. Although the visitors will miss some key players for this tie, they will look to replicate the performance at Tranmere to get past palace.
Giant-killing Palace v Injury plagued Spurs
Crystal Palace has earned a few rave reviews this season for some of their impressive performances against top sides in the Premier League. They emphatically beat Premier League champions Manchester City away from home, got a point at Old Trafford and drew 2-2 neighbours Arsenal. However, in this fixture, Roy Hodgson will look to rest important members of his squad given crucial league games coming up. The Eagles have proven they can beat the top dogs and Spurs should be wary.
Without Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, Spurs have won one and lost one. Dele Alli, one of Mauricio Pochettino’s important personnel, will be missing for the next few weeks. The away side will definitely field a much weaker side as they are aiming for a top four finish, a battle which is heating up. The weakened side will have to be up for the test against a team that can be very committed against top sides.
Spurs impressive away form v Palace poor home form
Spurs attack has been impressive away from home. They have scored 19 goals away from home in their last five away games. Additionally, they have won at Selhurst Park in five of the last six games there. Interestingly, the last five fixtures have ended with a score line of 1-0 in favour of the visitors. With important fixtures coming up for the top four candidates, they’ll take another scrappy win.
Palace last beat Spurs in 2016 in a fifth round FA Cup tie at White Hart Lane. They last won at home in mid-December and have scored only six goals on their turf, compared to 17 away from home in the Premier League. They can’t have an off day on Sunday if they want to progress to the next round.