clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Prediction League: A trip to Croydon

Almost exactly a year ago Southampton won this fixture with ease. It proved to be the end of Warnock and ushered in Pardew inspired fun times. Can the saints win this mid table six pointer?

Alex Broadway/Getty Images

There are three tiers in the premier league. Your big boys fighting it out for the European places, the relegation fodder battling for a piece of next season's mega TV deal, then there are the rest.

Southampton threatened to bridge the gap from the second tier last season but ultimately fell short. This year Koeman's men are firmly ensconced in a battle with the likes of Stoke, Everton and today's opponents. Our recent poor run of form may have seen us plummet to twelfth but a win here could see us leapfrog the eagles and go as high as sixth.

When we last made the trip to Croydon we faced a side without an identity and the victory ultimately hammered the final nail in Neil Warnock's palace coffin. Now we face an unrecognisable opponent, a pacey counter attacking monster. Our beloved Jason Puncheon is flanked by the always entertaining Bolasie and Zaha whilst Cabaye sits behind them having a whale of a time. Further forward they sold their only decent striker to Bournemouth and still await a goal from their shot shy strikers. In our current mood I'm sure we'll be happy to help them end this run.

Another record sitting there to be broken is "Southampton have never lost to Crystal Palace in the premier league".

It should be an interesting encounter tomorrow, two sides that have fared better on the road this season. Will Koeman change things up to stop Palace's main threats or just try and get back to what we do best? Will Cedric be trusted against Bolasie or will Yoshi be drafted in to gift the ball to the opposition? Can Pelle get back to scoring form or was Juanmi's promising cameo on Saturday enough to get him a start?

To the predictions:

No change in the table as Villa left St Marys with an unlikely and unpredicted draw.

WRITER POINTS
Jake 9
Dan 8
Merse 7
Connor 6
Lawro 6
George 3
Will 3

Lawro: 2-1

"Southampton's recent form is a bit worrying."

Merse: 1-1

"Palace are susceptible to the odd strange defeat, but overall they tend to be hard to beat. Score draw for this one."

Jake: 1-1

"Selhurst Park has been good to us over the years but I think we'll only come away with a point on Saturday."

Dan: 1-1

"Can't see us doing much and Palace are a good side. An early lead followed by another dour performance."

Connor: 1-2

"Saints to sneak a surprise 2-1 win to lift the mood!"

George: 1-2

"I'd rather be playing Palace at their place then at ours; hopefully Mané against Delaney and Dann will cause them real problems and set us on our way to a timely 3 points."

Will: 2-1

"Can see anything happening in this one."