Manchester City v Crystal Palace: match preview

 

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Manchester City v Crystal Palace
Etihad Stadium
Kick-off: 15.00 GMT.
TV: Highlights, BBC ONE Match of the Day.

Manchester City (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic, Kolarov; Fernandinho, Touré; Navas, Silva, Nasri; Negredo.
Out: Agüero (calf), Richards, Demichelis, Jovetic (all hamstring).

Crystal Palace (Possible, 4-4-2): Speroni; Mariapa, Gabbidon, Delaney, Parr; Bolasie, Jedinak, Bannan, Puncheon; Chamakh, Jerome.
Out: Dikgacoi (unspecified), Guédioura (ribs), Hunt (ankle), McCarthy (match fitness), Murray (knee), O'Keefe (thigh), Thomas (groin).

Referee: Andre Marriner. Matches: 14, R4 Y45.

Betting: Home 1-7, Away 20-1, Draw 6-1.
Team News
Manchester City defender Matija Nastasic could be back in contention for Saturday's visit of Crystal Palace in the Barclays Premier League.
The Serbia international was on the bench for the Boxing Day clash with Liverpool after eight games out with a calf injury while fellow centre-back Martin Demichelis was absent after pulling up in training.
Top scorer Sergio Agüero (calf) and right back Micah Richards (hamstring) remain on the sidelines while striker Stevan Jovetic is now out with a hamstring problem.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace top scorer Marouane Chamakh returns from suspension.
Yannick Bolasie replaced Chamakh for the 1-0 victory over Aston Villa and was arguably their most impressive player so manager Tony Pulis must decide whether to keep the winger in the team.
Match-winner Dwight Gayle is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench again, while none of Pulis' injured players are expected to be fit.
Match Notes
Manchester City have not dropped a point at the Etihad Stadium since the final day of last season, when Norwich emerged with a victory, so expecting Crystal Palace to achieve a similar result in City’s final home game of 2013 is perhaps asking too much.
Tony Pulis has inspired a Palace revival with three wins from six games since arriving as manager, however, so City will at least be facing a team growing in confidence.
Stat of the game: Palace last won at City 23 years ago, in December 1990, at City’s old Maine Road ground.
Mark Ogden's prediction: Manchester City 3 Crystal Palace 1