Crystal Palace vs Leicester City
English Premier League. Kick-off: 3pm, Saturday 14th October.
CRYSTAL PALACE desperately need a win to restore a bit of festive cheer at Selhurst Palace or they could be spending Christmas stuck in the drop zone.
With a daunting trip to the Etihad following this clash with Leicester, it's imperative they get three points on the board after claiming just one win in their last 11 games.
But they will be without their creative spark, with Wilfried Zaha suspended, and that's why 888 Sport are offering 33/20 for a home win against Leicester, who are 19/10 shots.
The Foxes may have been on a seven-game unbeaten run before last weekend's loss to Spurs but they all came against teams you would have expected them to get points from.
And although Crystal Palace have shipped three goals in their last two games, against Brighton then West Ham, it's hard to see Leicester City's attack running riot.
In their last 10 games, Claude Puel's side have scored more than one goal in just one match and even that was just a 2-0 win over Watford.
With Crystal Palace equally shot-shy it could pay to back a lack of goals in this one, especially with Zaha suspended.
The bookies also don't suspect a thriller, however, with under 1.5 goals available at just 37/20 with 888 Sport and both teams not to score a rather miserly 10/13.
To lengthen the odds a little it could be worth looking at 1-0 wins for either side, with Crystal Palace available at 6/1 and Leicester City 13/2 with 888 Sport.
The creative burden for Palace will fall on the shoulders of Andros Townsend, who scored a screamer in the last game at Selhurst Park to cap a 2-0 win over Burnley.
The winger is available at a decent 7/1 with 888 Sport for first scorer and 33/10 to net at any time in the 90 minutes.
Leicester's talisman Jamie Vardy is back in training after a groin injury and remains 888 Sport's favourite for a Foxes goal at 22/5 for first scorer and 2/1 for anytime scorer.
I've been impressed by playmaker James Maddison in recent games and the youngster could be worth a shout in the anytime scorer market at 3/1 with 888 Sport. He's 13/2 with the same firm to break the deadlock.
Recommended bets
- Under 1.5 goals 37/20 (888 Sport)
- Crystal Palace to win 1-0 6/1 (888 Sport)
- James Maddison anytime scorer (13/2)
I'm a sports journalist, football tipster and author from Dundee, who is now working in Glasgow. I've covered games at every level, from Junior football to internationals, and still love football even though it has clearly sold its soul. I've been in football tipping since 2018 with the MFT site.
