Predicted Crystal Palace side to face Middlesbrough: Trio pushing for start?

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Here is how we predict Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough will line up ahead of their crucial Premier League clash this weekend.

To be played on Saturday 25th February 2017 at 15:00. Venue: Selhurst Park, London

Odds: C. Palace 11/10, Draw 9/4, Middlesbrough 13/5

Crystal Palace host fellow relegation rivals Middlesbrough in desperate need for victory. The Eagles find themselves joint bottom of the Premier League standings, with 19 points from their 25 top-flight matches so far this season.

Middlesbrough, on the other hand, are not performing much better than Palace – as Saturday’s visitors to Selhurst Park sit just three places and three points ahead of Sam Allardyce’s side and are the lowest scorers in the division.

Allardyce has the option of affording starting roles to Yohan Cabaye, Jeffrey Schlupp and Loic Remy, after the trio were substitutes during the second half of Palace’s 1-0 defeat by Stoke City last time out. However, in all likeliness, the Palace boss will continue to deploy a midfield quintet of James McArthur, Luka Milivojevic, Jason Puncheon, Andros Townsend and Wilfried Zaha behind target man Christian Benteke.

In defence, the under-fire Joel Ward and recently criticised Patrick Van Aanholt should take their full back spots in a back four alongside central defensive pairing James Tomkins and Damien Delaney. Goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey is expected to continue his ownership of the gloves.

Although scoring goals has been a significant issue for opponents Middlesbrough, Aitor Karanka’s defensive unit currently possesses the fourth best record in terms of goals conceded – with only Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United conceding fewer than Middlesbrough so far this season.

Team news sees consistency throughout ‘Boro’s line-up, with only Antonio Barragan and George Friend potentially missing from Karanka’s apparent preferred XI. Fabio looks set to continue at left back, with Callum Chambers moving over to the right back spot in Barragan’s absence.

Here is the predicted Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough line-up, in full: