Eng. Championship
2012-12-08 - Crystal Palace vs Blackpool
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Championship
Saturday 8 December 2012 - Kick Off 3pm
Crystal Palace
While these clubs have not historically been rivals, the presence of Ian Holloway in the home dressing room will certainly create a more tense atmosphere at Selhurst Park. Holloway clearly believes the Eagles offer him the best chance of returning to the Premier League, but I don't think the Blackpool fans would have been too happy with his decision to depart Bloomfield Road.
So far, Holloway will feel justified in his decision as he has kept Crystal Palace going in the right direction. Palace are 2nd in the Championship, just 1 point behind leaders Cardiff City and also holding a 4 point lead over Leicester City in the first of the Play Off positions. They have a 7-2-1 home record, scoring 27 goals and conceding 12 in those games.
Palace suffered a slight blip in form when they picked up just 1 point from games at Leeds United and Hull City, but they bounced back with a 3-0 win over rivals Brighton here last weekend and have now won 6 of their last 8 overall. Palace have also won 4 in a row at home and 6 of their last 7 here at Selhurst Park where they are unbeaten in 9 League games.
Blackpool
Blackpool had actually been suffering with a real dip of form when Ian Holloway decided to move down south to take over at Crystal Palace and they have a bit of work to do if they are to get back into the Play Offs. They missed out on promotion last season when losing the Play Off Final against West Ham United and may just be suffering a hangover from that this year,
The side are 12th in the Championship and have earned 28 points so far this season which leaves them 5 behind Watford in the final Play Off place. Blackpool will bring in a 4-2-4 away record where they have scored and conceded 14 goals so far this season.
They are unbeaten in their last 6 games coming into this one, but Blackpool will have been glad of picking up the three points last weekend after a run of 4 draws before that. Blackpool beat Peterborough United 1-4 last weekend and they are unbeaten in their last 3 away games, winning 2 of those.
Head to Head
Crystal Palace and Blackpool drew 1-1 here last season and that means the home team is unbeaten in their last 2 games hosting the Seasiders with the game before finishing 4-1 to Palace.
Blackpool have won 1 of their last 5 visits to Selhurst Park, although 3 of those games have ended in draws.
Prediction
This should be a fascinating game on Saturday afternoon as both sides are likely to get on the front foot and will want to cause their opponents problems.
Crystal Palace have been very good at home this season, but, as I mentioned last week, Ian Holloway sides will send a lot of men forward and that leads to higher-scoring games, even if it is just his side scoring.
I expect some of the Blackpool players are going to raise their game a little more after being quoted as saying things had gone 'stale' at Bloomfield Road under Ian Holloway and goals is my pick from this one.
The Pick :
Crystal Palace 3-2 Blackpool
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.75
