West Bromwich Albion vs Crystal Palace. Premier League.
The HawthornsAttendance24,051.
Saturday 4 March 2017 10:46, UK
West Brom boss Tony Pulis takes on his former club Crystal Palace on Saturday as the Baggies look to continue their near faultless home record against teams in the bottom half.
All eight of their Premier League home wins have been against teams currently below them and another win at the Hawthorns would be their best home winning streak (five games) since 2010 when they won nine straight games in the Championship.
Crystal Palace are 18th in the Premier League, but are only below Middlesbrough on goal difference following their crucial win over Aitor Karanka's side last weekend.
West Brom will check on the fitness of Matt Phillips after the winger missed last weekend's home win over Bournemouth with a hamstring injury. He has had a scan on the problem and a decision will be made over his inclusion on Friday.
Defender Craig Dawson has been checked over and is fine to play after a bang to the head saw him withdrawn early in the second half against the Cherries.
Crystal Palace again have captain Scott Dann available but he may not start.
Bakary Sako has also recovered his fitness, meaning only Mathieu Flamini and Loic Remy - both owing to knocks - and long-term absentees Connor Wickham and Pape Souare are ruled out.
West Brom have never lost a home Premier League match against Palace (W2 D2).
The Eagles have only won two of their last 13 league visits to the Hawthorns (D4 L7).
Only against Bolton (six games) have the Baggies played a side more often at the Hawthorns in the Premier League without losing than Palace (four games).
Tony Pulis managed 26 Premier League games for Crystal Palace between 2013 and 2014, winning 42 per cent of his games (11 of 26), comfortably the best ratio of any Palace manager in the Premier League.
Sam Allardyce has only won one of his seven Premier League visits to the Hawthorns (D3 L3), winning 2-1 as West Ham boss in December 2014.
The Baggies are aiming to do the double over Crystal Palace in a top-flight season for the first time since 1980-81.
West Brom are now aiming to beat their record Premier League points total of 49 set in 2012/13. A win here would equal their points tally from last season (43).
Crystal Palace have conceded eight goals from outside the box in the Premier League this season, no other side has conceded more from long range. Their opponents West Brom have conceded the joint-fewest (2).
Gareth McAuley has scored six times for the Baggies this season, the most by a West Brom defender in a Premier League season.
Crystal Palace have won a higher proportion of their Premier League points this season away from home than any other side (54.5 per cent - 12/22).
The Baggies have scored a league-high 12 goals from corners this season in the Premier League, while only Hull City (24) have conceded more goals from set-pieces than Palace (18) in 2016-17.
Palace got their win last weekend but this could prove to be a really tough trip for them. West Brom are playing really well at the moment, especially at the Hawthorns. Tony Pulis' side have scored more goals at home than both Manchester City and Manchester United, which is phenomenal.
West Brom are going for their fifth straight win at home but it may suit Palace a bit more being away from Selhurst Park. It's a very tough game to call and I'm just siding with West Brom to nick this one.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (17/2 with Sky Bet)
West Brom are Sky Bet's 23/20 favourites for the victory with Crystal Palace 5/2 while the draw is priced at 11/5. The Eagles head into the weekend as even-month fourth favourites for relegation, while their hosts have no such concerns as 1/12 shots for a top-half finish. Salomon Rondon heads the first goalscorer betting at 9/2 with Christian Benteke considered the visitors' main threat at 6/1, while the strike duo are 11/2 to both find the net.
