Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the English Premier League match.
Crystal Palace have had a difficult week, suffering heavy defeats against top-four contenders. As they prepare to face Bournemouth, more defensive issues seem likely. The visitors, still in the hunt for a European place, possess a creative attacking unit and will be highly motivated.
Crystal Palace
Before their crushing losses to Manchester City (0:5) and Newcastle United (2:5), Crystal Palace had gone unbeaten in domestic competition since mid-February, a streak of seven matches. However, over their last 180 minutes of English Premier League football, they have conceded a concerning 6.93 in xGA. Their back-three setup is proving to be a liability. At home, Crystal Palace have managed just two clean sheets in their last ten appearances.
Bournemouth
Interestingly, Bournemouth have also seen a recent dip in results, although they continue to generate a high number of quality opportunities. Since 5 April, they have produced 3.81 xG in matches against West Ham United (2:2) and Fulham (1:0). Another meeting with a London side is unlikely to be overly problematic. In terms of expected goals this season, only Liverpool (77.03 xG) have outperformed Bournemouth (65.22 xG) in the English Premier League.
Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth Prediction
Since the start of last season, Crystal Palace have lost two of their three meetings with Bournemouth (0:2, 0:1, 0:0). This presents an excellent opportunity to back the visitors to score at least twice — a result that could lift them into the top seven.
