Saturday 14 March 2015 14:55, UK
Crystal Palace host QPR in Saturday's early Premier League kick-off as they look to end a poor run against their London rivals.
The Eagles have not beaten the west Londoners in their last seven league meetings, but the visitors have lost the last three games in a row and find themselves three points from safety.
Alan Pardew's side lost to Southampton last time out and have failed to win in their last four home games in all competitions, but victory on Saturday would put them 11 points clear of 18th-placed QPR and push them ever closer to Premier League survival.
Chris Ramsey is facing a tough task to keep the Rs in the top flight, and the visitors' troubles on the road could prove the difference in their bid for survival.
Team news
Palace will have on-loan Arsenal forward Yaya Sanogo back from a hamstring injury for Saturday's match against QPR.
Striker Glenn Murray is also available again following suspension, but midfielder Mile Jedinak, however, continues his four-game ban.
Fraizer Campbell and Marouane Chamakh (hamstring) are both out, while Jordon Mutch is also missing with a thigh strain.
QPR are hoping defender Darnell Furlong, midfielder Adel Taarabt and forward Eduardo Vargas will recover in time.
Furlong (calf), Taarabt (groin) and Vargas (muscular problem) returned to training this week after missing last weekend's 2-1 home defeat to Tottenham through injuries. The trio will have to pass a late fitness test on Friday afternoon before club coach Chris Ramsey decides to select them.
Midfielder Joey Barton will serve his third and final match ban this weekend while defender Richard Dunne and midfield pair Leroy Fer and Alejandro Faurlin are still sidelined with knee problems.
Opta facts
Crystal Palace have won just one of their last seven Premier League home matches (W1 D2 L4), and the Eagles have now gone 10 Premier League matches at Selhurst Park without a clean sheet.
QPR are unbeaten in the last seven league meetings with Crystal Palace (W3 D4 L0).
There have been just seven goals scored in the five Premier League meetings between Palace and Rangers and just one in the last three.
Rangers have won just one and lost 16 of their last 18 Premier League games away from home.
Alan Pardew has already won more Premier League games as Crystal Palace manager (four from eight) than Neil Warnock (three from 16), despite managing half as many games.
QPR have allowed more shots on target against them than any other team in the Premier League (160).
Merson's prediction
I think Palace will win. QPR have lost both of their last two at home in London derbies and they are not the best away from home. Chris Ramsey was following in big footsteps. He’s won a game but they are still behind the eight ball. They were unlucky against Tottenham with the refereeing decisions but they won’t get nothing at Palace. I think Palace are a decent team and they should win.
MERSE PREDICTS: 2-1
Betting
Crystal Palace are Sky Bet’s odds-on favourites at 3/4 to win on Saturday, with QPR looking to upset odds of 18/5 for the victory and 13/5 to secure a draw. The Hoops will also be looking to defy the odds in the relegation betting, as they head into the weekend priced 12/5 to stay up, while their hosts are considered all but safe at 28/1 to go down. Dwight Gayle is rated favourite in the first goalscorer market at 5/1, despite scoring 10 Premier League goals fewer than Charlie Austin, who is slightly longer odds at 11/2.
