Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the English Premier League match.
Capital derbies always capture attention, especially with Fulham vying for a spot in European competitions and Crystal Palace aiming to distance themselves from the relegation zone.
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace have made some headway but securing just four points in their last two outings isn’t enough. They were particularly frustrated dropping points against Wolverhampton, one of the Premier League’s major underdogs. Despite coming back from 1:2 down, the chances created suggested a win was in sight (2.51-1.53 xG), with Crystal Palace recording 19 shots, seven on target. They are still struggling with finishing, having scored only eight goals despite creating opportunities worth a further 4.5 goals (12.52 xG). They managed as many chances against Leicester City, netting twice in that encounter, too.
Fulham
Generating the same level of threat against Fulham is almost unimaginable. To do so, one would need to be like Manchester United (2.43 xGA), yet even they managed only a late goal. It's rare for teams to take all points against Fulham, only achieved by another Manchester club, City (3:2 with 1.57 xGA). Others have either lost (Nottingham Forest 0:1) or drawn.
Crystal Palace vs Fulham Prediction
In the last three meetings at Selhurst Park, Fulham have consistently taken points (0:0, 3:0, 0:0). Hence, we believe a double chance on the visitors is a justified bet. Additionally, we are unlikely to see anything more than a 2:2 scoreline, so a total under 4.5 also seems reasonable.
