Crystal Palace
Aston Villa FC
Aston Villa FC
Mid table sides Crystal Palace and Aston Villa clash trying to avoid ending season with a whimper
Aston Villa to win 1-0
If any of the games across this weekend have an ‘end of season’ look about them, it’s this one.
With both Crystal Palace and Aston Villa comfortably wedged in the mid table area of the Premier League, it’s safe to say that there is little more at stake than pride.
Palace’s form has been disappointing ever since it became obvious that they weren’t going to be relegated this season, winning just one of their last six league fixtures. They beat Sheffield United impressively, but apart from that haven’t had too much to shout about in recent weeks.
Aston Villa will have been boosted by the return of captain and best player Jack Grealish from injury in their last game, a 0-0 draw against Everton. Grealish came off the bench to get his first minutes since suffering from a shin injury 12 games ago.
Can he inspire them to victory here?
Form Guide (all comps): LLLWL
Reasons to be cheerful:
Performances have been better than results have suggested recently
Benteke has shown good form up front
Reasons to be fearful:
Just three wins from last 13 games
How motivated will his squad be coming to the end of the season?
Crystal Palace are not only coming towards the end of the season, but also perhaps the end of an era at their football club.
Rumours are that Roy Hodgson will leave the club as manager at the end of the season, and a number of players’ contracts also run out this summer, proving that there could be plenty of comings and goings once the final matches have been played.
Once again they have secured what would seem to be a midtable finish, although will want to make sure of that with a win from their final three games.
Their form has been poor lately, despite Christian Benteke’s recent performances in front of goal, and it’ll be interesting to see how motivated they are against Villa.
Star Man – Christian Benteke
Has five goals in his last eight appearances for the Eagles, Benteke is currently leading the line well for Palace.
Form Guide (all comps): LDWLD
Reasons to be cheerful:
Grealish should be fit enough to start here
Ollie Watkins will return to the side after suspension
Reasons to be fearful:
Have recorded just two wins since the end of February
Cash and Mings could miss out at the back through injury
Villa will be pleased to welcome back Jack Grealish into the starting lineup, presuming that he is fit enough to do so, but it is unrealistic to expect him to fire on all cylinders straight away.
Having missed 12 games with a shin injury, during which time Villa won just three, it will take him time to get back up to speed. It should give his teammates confidence, of course, with others badly lacking quality in his absence.
They have picked up enough points to stay competitive in their race for a top half finish, with five points collected from their past five games, but will need to do better to move ahead of 10th place Leeds.
Can they show this motivation against Palace?
Star Man – Ollie Watkins
Grealish may be back, but the pressure to score goals will be on top scorer Watkins, who assisted against Palace earlier in the season.
Who can show greater motivation?
Grealish can influence the game if he is fit
Villa are due a good performance
Aston Villa haven’t gone long without a good performance this season, and you feel that this could be the time to strike when two of their best players are returning.
Crystal Palace have good players at the top end of the pitch too, but with player contracts running down, and with uncertainty about the manager’s intentions at the end of the season, it’s hard to see where their motivation is coming from.
Aston Villa to win 1-0
