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Mick's Match Preview: Crystal Palace vs. Derby County
Mick's Match Preview: Crystal Palace vs. Derby County
Friday, 18th Mar 2011 10:58 by Mick McDermott

The Rams will ride a wave of new - found confidence to Palace - a team who now need a win even more than Derby.

 

 

Crystal Palace vs. Derby County  

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

 

 

Photo: Action Images



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