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Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth – Match Preview

Both these sides have lost their first two games of the season but at least one of them will get off the mark on Saturday as they go head to head at Selhurst Park. For Crystal Palace they will be looking to record signing Christian Benteke to pay off a chunk of his transfer fee by scoring on his league debut for the club.

Last weekend saw them edged out by cross town rivals Tottenham but they never really threatened Michel Vorm’s goal and lacked any real attacking presence. With Belgian international Benteke now ready and waiting, Alan Pardew will be hoping he has found his man to fire Palace away from the bottom three.

Bournemouth nearly ruined West Ham’s housewarming party last Sunday but were undone by a late Michail Antonio goal in a game devoid of any real quality. Harry Arter’s sending off proved to be The Cherries as Eddie Howe’s man buckled under The Hammers numerical advantage.

The signs haven’t looked great for Bournemouth in their first two matches and failure to pick up a point in South London will have people wondering if they are going to be the next in a long line of teams that have succumbed to ‘Season Second Syndrome’

Alan Pardew also has the additional problem of trying to keep Wilifiried Zaha at Selhurst Park. Tottenham were reported to have made a bid of £14m for the England international and although Zaha seemed ready for a move to North London, chairman Steve Parrish didn’t quite feel the same. Has Zaha’s head been turned to the point where he may not feature Today, I guess we will find out come 3pm.

The bigger question will be whether or not he is still there come the end of the month. It could be a very ‘Palace’ problem if they were to buy a brand new striker at a club record fee but then fail to give him the ammunition that he needs. It’s going to be a nervy few days for Palace fans.

But going back to Today, you would imagine that Benteke will be ready and raring to go and hoping to get off the mark on his debut. Andros Townsend and Jason Puncheon will be charged with supplying the ammunition and against this Bournemouth side they will very much fancy their chances. Palace have lacked any real quality in their opening two games but I fancy them to get all 3 points this afternoon. Home win for me.

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