Sunderland vs Crystal Palace: Premier League match preview
A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at The Stadium of Light
In November's reverse fixture Sunderland ran out 3-0 winners at Selhurst Park as Mile Jedinak was sent off late for kicking out at Jordi Gomez.
Alan Pardew will be hoping for more restraint from his defensive midfielder this time around though, as the form team of the league head to a Sunderland side still dazzling after Jermain Defoe's wonder-strike gave them all three-points against Newcastle.
Sunderland will be hoping to see the return of Jack Rodwell against Palace as he nears a full fitness after a hamstring injury.
KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3:00pm
PAST THREE MEETINGS…
Crystal Palace 1 (Wes Brown o.g 55) Sunderland 3 (Flecther 31, 90, Gomez 79), Premier League, November 2014
Sunderland 0 Crystal Palace 0, Premier League, March 2014
Crystal Palace 3 (Gabbidon 9, Gayle pen 79, O’Keefe 90) Sunderland 1 (Fletcher 64), Premier League, August, 2013
STATS…
Sunderland have only scored more than twice in two Barclays Premier League games this season and one of them came in their 3-1 win at Palace in November.
Wes Brown scored his sixth Premier League own goal in the reverse fixture in November. Only two players (Richard Dunne 10 and Jamie Carragher 7) have scored more in Premier League history.
Jermain Defoe's three Sunderland goals have come between the 34th and 45th minute.
Defoe has scored three of Sunderland's last four Premier League goals but first of those came in January.
If the Premier League only counted games since Alan Pardew took over as Palace manager then the Eagles would be fifth, only two points behind Chelsea.
ODDS…
Sunderland to win: 2.90
Crystal Palace to win: 2.70
Draw: 3.20
TV: Highlights on Match of the Day at 10:30pm
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