Bristol City vs Cystal Palace Match Preview

By: Matt P | February 17th, 2008

Five reasons City will beat Palace tomorrow night:

1. No team have done the double over Bristol and only two have taken four points. In contrast, five teams have taken zero or one point from their two matches against us.

2. City will be fired up after all the sledging last time.

3. Palace have not won in their last four games (losing three), and have only won twice in their last eight.

4. It’s Red ‘n’ White Night!

5. Orr’s knocking them in for fun with two goals in the last two games for the defender. Who would bet against his hat-trick?

And two reasons City won’t win:

1. Palace have the lowest goals against tally away from home of any team in the Championship.

2. The last time Palace won was against Bristol.

What Bristol need to do:

Get more shots away and, in particular, on target. In the defeat against Palace, Bristol had more possession and more corners yet less shots on goal. Gary Johnson said after the match that the difference between the two teams had been that Palace took their chances, City didn’t. Against Palace’s shaky and lacking-in-confidence defence (having conceded five in their last four) City will get plenty of chances, but to take advantage of them the performance in the final third of the pitch will need to be upped.

The players also need to get their heads right. The defeat at Selhurst Park was less than a month ago but the lads need to remember Ashton Gate is a different place where they have a much better record. They also need to stay calm in the face of the ’sledging’ and dirty play which, judging by the last match (21 Palace fouls to 6 by City), they will certainly face from the opposition.

With the fans behind them for Red and White Night, Bristol have the advantage, and what more motivation could we all need than the knowledge that a win will take us top of the pile.

Latest Odds:

Bristol City Win: 11/10
Draw: 11/5
Crystal Palace Win: 2/1