Crystal Palace vs Brentford: Premier League preview, team news, stats, prediction, kick-off time
Conor Gallagher set for Crystal Palace debut after summer signing; No new injury concerns for Brentford after Arsenal win; follow Crystal Palace vs Brentford in our dedicated live match blog; watch free match highlights on Sky Sports digital platforms and YouTube channel at 5.15pm
Friday 20 August 2021 20:34, UK
Team news, stats and prediction ahead of Crystal Palace vs Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday; kick-off 3pm.
Team news
Conor Gallagher is set to make his competitive debut for Crystal Palace on Saturday when Premier League newcomers Brentford visit Selhurst Park.
The Chelsea loanee was ineligible to face his parent club last weekend but will be welcomed into the squad by manager Patrick Vieira following their 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
James Tomkins is also available after recovering from a knock but Nathan Ferguson (Achilles), captain Luka Milivojevic (personal reasons), Michael Olise (back) and Ebere Eze (Achilles) remain absent.
Brentford have no fresh injury concerns following a 2-0 home win over Arsenal in the club's first Premier League match.
Denmark midfielder Mathias Jensen has resumed training after recovering from a deep wound in his foot suffered during the Euro 2020 semi-final defeat by England, but is not yet in contention.
Yoane Wissa could be in line for his debut after being on the bench against Arsenal, and winger Tariqe Fosu is closing in on a return from an unspecified knock, but midfielder Josh Dasilva (hip) remains unavailable.
How to follow
Follow Crystal Palace vs Brentford in our dedicated live match blog. Highlights will also be published on the Sky Sports digital platforms and the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel at 5.15pm.
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Last time out...
Prediction: Jones Knows writes...
If you needed any evidence to see how much relegation danger Crystal Palace are in this season, just look at the match prices for this one. Despite having home advantage over a newly promoted team, Patrick Viera's team are only just shading favouritism at 6/4 with Sky Bet.
Before looking at the prices, I was all over getting Brentford on my side but it seems others are equally as impressed. Thomas Frank's team look a well-drilled, cohesive unit, that possess a togetherness that was on show during the win at Arsenal. Plus, they have quality in forward areas.
At a neutral venue, I'd fancy them strongly but Selhurst Park can become a hotbed for atmosphere when Palace need them and they will play their part here, surely. There's still an unknown quantity about Palace under Viera, so I'll usher away from being too down on them without much evidence, although I am plumping for a narrow away win for a match prediction.
My money will be going down on Frank Onyeka picking up his first booking of the season for Brentford - one of many I expect. He averaged over two fouls a game playing for Midtjylland last season, collecting 11 yellows along the way. The pace of the Premier League will take some getting used and a player with his aggressive nature will be found mistiming a tackle or two at regular occasions. He made three fouls vs Arsenal and was lucky to escape a booking. Not this time.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-2
BETTING ANGLE: Frank Onyeka to be carded (5/2 with Sky Bet)
Opta stats
- Crystal Palace and Brentford haven't faced each other in a league game since a January 1964 meeting in the third tier, won 1-0 by Palace with a goal from Peter Burridge.
- In any competition, this is the first encounter between Crystal Palace and Brentford for 39 years, since a Football League Trophy match at Griffin Park that ended 2-2 in August 1982.
- Only two of the last 17 teams playing their first away Premier League match have won (D2 L13), with Blackpool winning 4-0 against Wigan Athletic in 2010 and Huddersfield Town winning 3-0 against Crystal Palace in 2017. Excluding the opening season in 1992-93, two of the five teams to win their first-ever away match in the competition have done so at Palace, with Barnsley also doing so in 1997.
- Crystal Palace against Brentford is the 1,436th different English top-flight fixture, and the first new fixture at this level since Brighton vs Sheffield United in December 2019.
- Brentford kicked off their maiden Premier League campaign with a 2-0 victory against Arsenal. Only three teams have ever won their first two games in the competition - Coventry and Norwich in 1992-93, and Huddersfield in 2017-18.
- Crystal Palace are winless in their last nine Premier League London derbies (D4 L5). They've lost the last four in a row (including their season opener against Chelsea), while conceding at least three goals in each defeat.
- Brentford have won just two of their last 12 away league London derbies (D5 L5), winning at both QPR and Fulham in the 2019-20 campaign.
- Patrick Vieira will take charge of his first home game as Crystal Palace manager. Each of the last three Eagles managers have lost their first Premier League match at Selhurst Park, with Alan Pardew the last to win in January 2015.
- As well as having the most shots (3, also scoring the opening goal) for Brentford in their opening day victory against Arsenal, Sergi Canós made the most combined tackles (7) and interceptions (3) of any Premier League player on MD1.
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