Crystal Palace vs West Bromwich Albion. Premier League.
Selhurst Park.
Wilfried Zaha could return to Crystal Palace XI; Grady Diangana could be back after injury; follow Crystal Palace vs West Brom live on Sky Sports PL and Main Event from 2.30pm; kick-off 3pm; watch free highlights shortly after full time on Sky Sports website and app
Saturday 13 March 2021 16:03, UK
Team news, stats and prediction ahead of Crystal Palace vs West Brom in the Premier League on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).
Wilfried Zaha could be back in the starting XI when Crystal Palace host West Brom in the Premier League on Saturday.
The attacker, who has nine goals this season, made his return from a hamstring injury as a substitute in the 4-1 loss at Tottenham last weekend.
Eagles boss Roy Hodgson remains without Nathaniel Clyne (muscle), James Tomkins (eye), Mamadou Sakho (thigh), Tyrick Mitchell (muscle), James McCarthy (groin) and James McArthur (calf) while Nathan Ferguson is training with the Under-23s after his thigh injury.
West Brom winger Grady Diangana is hoping to feature after missing two games through illness.
Diangana, who made a goal-scoring return for the U23s this week, has made just two appearances for Sam Allardyce's side this year due to injury and illness.
Robert Snodgrass is doubtful as he waits to learn the full extent of an unspecified injury sustained this week in training. He had recently returned to full fitness following a knee problem.
Crystal Palace vs West Brom will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event from 2.30pm; kick-off 3pm. Sky Sports customers can watch in-game clips in the live match blog on the Sky Sports website and app. Highlights will also be published on the Sky Sports digital platforms and the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel shortly after the final whistle.
When it comes to West Brom strikers leaving a legacy, Mbaye Diagne is closer to Markus Rosenberg than Geoff Horsfield on that particular spectrum.
Just one goal in eight games is a pretty wretched record but that only tells half the story - he has been the nearly man for the Baggies and could have been the next Horsfield with a bit more luck.
Since signing, no player in the Premier League has a higher expected goal figure than Diagne's - in those eight games the quality of chance falling his way has accumulated 4.63 goals. That does not include the effort he had ruled out for offside by VAR in the 1-0 defeat to Everton, too.
In total, he has missed eight big chances since joining on loan and his confidence looked low vs Newcastle, snatching at chances and losing balance at critical times when his team-mates found him in space.
However, I am willing to roll the dice one more time with Diagne - considering this weekend's opponents. Palace will not be changing their game-plan of defending deep and soaking up pressure even against the all-but relegated Baggies. It's a football philosophy that has seen them concede the most headed shots on their goal this season of any Premier League team (90) with nine goals conceded via a header. Diagne can star for the away side by scoring first at 7/1 with Sky Bet here in an overdue win.
JONES KNOWS PREDICTS: 1-2
BETTING ANGLE: Mbaye Diagne to score first (7/1 with Sky Bet)
In this week's Pitch to Post Preview Podcast we turn our attention to Arsenal vs Tottenham, as the north London rivals prepare to face off at the Emirates. Peter Smith is joined by Sky Sports football journalists Ben Grounds and Ron Walker to assess the big match. The panel reflect on positive Europa League wins for both sides, consider the potential team selection issues, and which team needs the win more.
We also hear the latest from Sky Sports News reporter Alan Myers on Everton's push for the Champions League spots, ahead of their tricky test against Burnley, while Ron returns to assess Amad Diallo's fine first goal for Manchester United and the challenge they face on Sunday against an in-form West Ham, who also have ambitions for the top four.
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