The Rams will ride a wave of new - found confidence to Palace - a team who now need a win even more than Derby.
3pm Saturday 19th March 2011
Selhurst Park
South Norwood - London
Crystal Palace v Rams - Historical
P 30 W 8 D 9 L 13 F 23 A 38
Last game at Selhurst Park
Tue 19 Sep 09: Palace 1 - 0 Rams
Current Form
Palace: 21/24 P 37 W 10 D 8 L 19 F 35 A 57
Leading scorers: Vaughan (8)
Derby: 18/24 Derby P 37 W 12 D 7 L 18 F 46 A 51
Leading scorers: Bueno (4), Cywka (4)
The Rams
It was a very quiet week for the Rams in the media as it seemed everyone from club to supporters took time out. Although not yet safe, it was a well deserved break weeks and weeks of impending doom.
When Nigel Clough did speak he hoped his team can build on their recent performance but was reluctant to predict much:
"The points are always vital in the position we are in and three points made a big difference for us on Saturday."
"In terms of providing confidence and belief for the final nine games - four of which are at home - we hope the win will certainly help in that department."
"We will only know once we played the games, but we hope we can build on the result."
Nigel also spoke again about his recruitment plans for next season and the need to bring in 'experienced players' at this level:
"We need those sorts of players to help the younger ones around, so that's the plan and something we are working on."
"We have to get safe first but once we do that we can really sit down and talk about our targets. We've got them, they are in place, but we have to secure safety first."
Possible Team
Fielding
Brayford Barker Ayala Roberts
Green Savage Pearson
Bueno
Robinson Ward
SUBS: Boulding, S.Davies, Porter, B.Davies, Bailey, Doyle, Leacock
Current Rams Squad
No. Position Player
1 Keeper Stephen Bywater
2 Defender John Brayford
3 Defender Gareth Roberts
4 Midfield Paul Green
5 Defender Shaun Barker (vice-captain)
6 Defender Dean Leacock
7 Striker Steve Davies
8 Midfield Robbie Savage (club captain)
10 Striker Jamie Ward (on loan from Sheffield United)
11 Midfield Stephen Pearson
12 Striker Chris Porter
13 Keeper Saul Deeney
14 Defender Russell Anderson
16 Midfield James Bailey
17 Defender Jake Buxton
18 Midfield Ben Pringle
19 Striker Tomasz Cywka
20 Defender Miles Addison
21 Defender Daniel Ayala (on loan from Liverpool)
23 Striker Conor Doyle
24 Midfield Arnaud Mendy
25 Defender Mark O'Brien
26 Striker Callum Ball
27 Striker Alberto Bueno (on loan from Real Valladolid)
28 Midfield Ben Davies
29 Midfield Jeff Hendrick
34 Keeper Frank Fielding
36 Keeper Michael Boulding
Palace
The suspension of Paddy McCArthy means that a familiar face may be at centre half for Palace on Saturday;
"I have always been ready,” said Claude Davis.
"It has been a bit frustrating not starting but what can I do but keep on training hard and wait for my chance? I am a team player though, it is not about whether I am starting or not, it is about being a team player and then doing what I do best, playing football."
"It doesn't matter that we are playing a former club of mine."
If football is what he does best I'd hate to see is DIY.
Joking aside, Claude may not have been the best player ever to wear a Rams shirt, but at least he had heart. He didn't hide or shirk on the pitch.
It's just that in that Rams side, the pressure was so high, every single mistake got punished. And Claude is prone to gaffes because he tries.
Some of current team could probably learn a thing or two from him.
Current Cystal Squad
No. Position Player
1 Keeper Julián Speroni
2 Defender Nathaniel Clyne
3 Defender David Wright
4 Defender Claude Davis
5 Defender Paddy McCarthy (captain)
7 Midfield Darren Ambrose (vice-captain)
8 Midfield Neil Danns
9 Striker Steffen Iversen
10 Midfield Owen Garvan
11 Midfield Andy Dorman
13 Keeper Lewis Price
14 Striker Sean Scannell
15 Midfield Kieron Cadogan
16 Striker Wilfried Zaha
18 Defender Lee Hills
19 Striker Jermaine Easter
20 Striker James Vaughan (on loan from Everton)
22 Defender Jerry Nnamani
23 Striker Nathaniel Pinney
28 Midfield Stuart O'Keefe
29 Midfield Dean Moxey
30 Midfield Alex Marrow
31 Defender Anthony Gardner (on loan from Hull City)
32 Striker Pablo Couñago (on loan from Ipswich Town)
33 Midfield Kemy Agustien (on loan from Swansea City)
34 Midfield Kagisho Dikgacoi (on loan from Fulham)
35 Keeper Charlie Mann
What the bookies think
Palace are favourites for this game at 29/20 while the Rams are at 19/10. The draw is at 9/4.
James Vaughan is a 5/1 bet for the first goal while Theo Robinson & Steve Davies are both at 7/1 for the Rams.
Advice For Those Travelling to Palace
It's a long way to Palace and very tedious.
Driving
Take the M1 south to the M25 then Southbound M25 to J10, Take the A3 towards London for about 10 miles and turn right at the Tolworth roundabout onto the A240.
Take the A232 exit towards Sutton and Croydon. When the A23 bears left head for Thornton Heath, head into Brigstock Rd past Thornton Heath station onto the High Street. The ground is on your right after the mini roundabout.
Take Sat Nav or the Train!
Parking
Park on street but take care to avoid resident only schemes, or pay and display streets. Take the train people!!
Drinking
If you take the train, get a drink in central London first. Otherwise there are various Wetherspoon outlets near Norwood & Thornoton Heath and the locals are relatively friendly.
Mick's prediction
Still not out of the Woods with regard to relegation and any fan who thinks it's all over is fooling themselves.
Palace need the points more than we do so I suspect this could be a scrappy defensive affair.
If Claude is playing anything is possible - he could score ... for either team!
I'm going to go for a draw.
Palace 1-1 Rams