On Sunday, Crystal Palace defied the odds and picked up three points against Liverpool; a side that also needed the points to kick-start the middle part of their Premier League campaign and to be fair, they struggled but Neil Warnock’s training throughout the international break shone thorough as players in all areas of the field pulled together for a great result. Same again this week lads?
Neil Warnock managed his side to their first victory in five games last time out and will be looking to continue in the fashion of knocking statistical form out of the window as this week there are a few statistics he will want to throw out and twist them; firstly, he will want to put an end to Swansea’s recent record against Crystal Palace as they are unbeaten in their last six games against the Eagles, winning four and drawing the other two. The next statistic will be Crystal Palace’s scoring record against Swansea as last time out at the Liberty Stadium, Glenn Murray scored the Eagles’ only goal against the Welsh side in six fixtures and after the performance last weekend, it is possible to improve it.
Crystal Palace will also be looking for their second Premier League away game of the season as they have only picked up on victory under Neil Warnock and that was against Everton at Goodison Park where the Eagles have also proved to be sturdy customers over the past two seasons (in reference to Liverpool).
Last Time Out: Swansea City 1 – 1 Crystal Palace
The Eagles left it until the 82nd minute at the Liberty Stadium last season via a penalty from Glenn Murray to secure an unlikely draw in Wales as Crystal Palace looked second and impossibly third best throughout the game after Jonathan De Guzman fired the hosts in front within 25 minutes. The only thing that could have pushed Tony Pulis’ side to victory was post-penalty as due to the penalty being awarded, Chico Flores was sent off for the hosts that allowed Crystal Palace to put together a number of late chances on goal; sadly, it didn’t happen.
Following the statistical side of Crystal Palace’s game over the past couple of years it’s become noticeable that some things will continue in terms of a trend and one of those things is the Eagles’ passing statistics; the graphic below shows both Swansea’s (Left) and Crystal Palace’s (Right) passing in the last fixture between the two teams. On the day, the Swans managed an 87% pass completion rate with the red straight lines showing the in-complete passes which occurred in most areas of the field whereas Tony Pulis’s side at the time had only completed 67% – these statistics are ever present this season when you compare the two sides as in the Premier League in 2014/15, Crystal Palace have made a league-low of 2464 successful passes which is just more than half of Swansea’s completed passes that stands at 4716. If there’s one thing that Neil Warnock needs to work on in the training ground now is passing during matches.
Crystal Palace will be looking to make a number of improvements from that game and will not be wanting to wait on the luck of a penalty to save them from sacrificing all three points; Tony Pulis couldn’t do it but can Neil Warnock repeat what he did at the Liberty Stadium in his first reign at the club?
A Statistical Preview: Set-Pieces and Goals
Last weekend, Mile Jediank continued the Eagles’ fine Premier League record as he curled his free-kick against Liverpool into the top right hand corner past both the wall and Mignolet allowing the club to maintain its top listing in scoring the most goals from set pieces in the league this season but sadly, there is two sides to this story. Crystal Palace aren’t just scoring the most goals from set pieces as they are also conceding the most with eight being put into the back of the net by Neil Warnock’s side and allowing nine to be scored. Reportedly, the Gaffer worked with the defensive side of the team during the international break which was clear to see on Sunday against Liverpool and to his credit no set piece goals were conceded, they were just scored. Is this a change?
Crystal Palace’s eight set-piece goals this season have come from the following starting point: two were from free-kicks that were crossed into the area, one free-kick was direct whilst three came from corners and two from penalties. This is something that has been dramatically improved this season in the Premier League as last season, a set-piece would have been welcomed mainly by a groan by some of Selhurst Park’s more opinionated fans. Mile Jedinak’s free-kick on the weekend and the Eagles’ determination and flair which creates opportunities for fouls gives them the upper hand.
Earlier on, I spoke about statistics that Neil Warnock will want to change this weekend but one thing he will not want changed is Crystal Palace’s top standing in the bottom of the Premier League table for goals scored this season with 17 goals scored which can only be caught by opponents Swansea City who have scored just one less than the Eagles. In truth, the statistic could go anywhere as Crystal Palace are yet to keep an away clean sheet in six match this season, have conceded the second highest amount of goals in away games this season (12 – only three behind QPR), Swansea can play the Premier League’s top goal scorer (Wilfried Bony – five goals in his last six) and the Eagles have only scored one goal in the last six fixtures between the two sides.
If Crystal Palace want to look for goals, they may have to look to defend in the first half an hour and then pounce as Garry Monk’s side have only conceded one goal this season inside the opening 30 minutes – handing them the best defensive record during that period in the Premier League. That being said, the Eagles rarely score early and have consistently left it until the second half to put the ball past the opposition’s keeper.
It will be a close game, there’s no hiding that with both teams wanting to push their form on and try and reach the higher outskirts of the bottom half of the table.
What Are The Stats, Stats Man?
– Crystal Palace have won four, drawn seven and lost 10 games against Swansea City in all competitions.
– The hosts have managed to put 31 goals past Crystal Palace in the 21 fixtures between the two sides whilst conceding 23.
– Last season, Glenn Murray scored the only goal that the Eagles have managed to put past Swansea in the last six fixtures between the two sides.
– Swansea are unbeaten in their last six games against the visitors, winning four and drawing the other two.
– Wilfried Bony is the Premier League’s top goal scoring player in 2014 with 17 goals; scoring five goals in his last six outings for Swansea.
– Dwight Gayle has score four of his nine goals for Crystal Palace from the substitute bench.
– The Swans have only managed six headed attempts on goal this season, fewer than any other side in the division.
– After creating six goals in his opening seven Premier League games this season, Gylfi Sigurdsson has only assisted one in his last five games.
– Neil Warnock’s side have only picked up one victory away from home this season, beating Everton 3-2 at Goodison Park.
– Swansea have the best defensive record in the Premier League inside the first 30 minutes, conceding only one goal.
– Crystal Palace are the highest scoring side in the bottom half of the Premier League, scoring 17 goals – Swansea have scored one fewer.
– Garry Monk’s side have lost the most points in the Premier League this season from a winning position alongside Hull City with 11 points.
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