Palace Preview - Away, Nov 28th

Off the bnack of two fine home displays, Malky Mackay's Hornet's side travel to South London to take on Neil Warnock's struggling Crystal Palace.

The Eagles have lost just once in eleven outings, yet seven of those games have been draws, putting the Londoners up with the draw specialists of the division.

Central to any plans Warnock has this season will be Darren Ambrose. The former Ipswich, Charlton and Newcastle playmaker has been in scintilating form for the Selhurst Park outfit this season contributing eleven league and cup goals - his best ever return. It's easy therefore to forget Ambrose is actually a wide midfielder.

Loan deadline day business saw experienced striker Stern John move on once again to join up with former Mackems boss, Roy Keane. The 33 year-old Trinidadian forward has been out of contention for three months with a dislocated shoulder. In his place, young striker Freddie Sears, on loan from West Ham, has stuggled manfully, but returned a meagre nil goals from nine starts and three sub apps.

More problems in striking department for Warnock follow as Sean Scannell looks set to miss out with a hamstring problem, thus, former Luton Town forward Calvin Andrew could be forced back into the fray quicker than expected following a cruciate injury.

Centre half Paddy McCarthy is also out with the recurrance of an earler shoulder problem so it's likely to be Claude Davis and Jose Fonte at the heart of the Eagles defence.

Watford have no such problems, only Ross Jenkins and Jay DeMerit are out with back and eye problems respectively. The Watford Obsever yesterday reported knocks to Jon Harley and Don Cowie, however both are to undergo fitness tests this morning.

Richard Lee looks set for a place on the bench after working his was back from a knee injury.

Predicted Palace XI
Speroni
Clyne Davis Fonte C.Hill
Ambrose Danns Derry (c) Ertl
Lee Moses

Predicted Watford XI
Loach
Hodson Mariappa (c) Cathcart Doyley
Cleverley Lansbury Eustace Cowie
Helguson
Graham

Form Guides:
Palace: DDDWD
Watford:DWLWW

Prediction
A tough afternoon for Malky's young side who will come up against another bruising outfit after the Scunthorpe game, however they handled that well enough, so why not this? Three points for the 'Orns!

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