Sunderland vs Crystal Palace preview: Yohan Cabaye needs return to form as Connor Wickham faces former club
A look ahead to the Premier League fixture at The Stadium of Light
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Your support makes all the difference.It’s a big game for…
Yohan Cabaye: The Frenchman has come under a lot of scrutiny of late due to his dip in form, partly caused by injury. Palace fans took to social media to voice their opinion after their team went 3-0 down against West Brom in the first half. Cabaye struggled during the weekend fixture but should be able to help Palace cruise past Sunderland who currently sit 19th in the league table.
Best stat…
51.7%: Crystal Palace have a scored a total of twenty-nine goals in the league so far this season and 51.7% of the goals have been set-pieces – more set-piece goals than any other team in the league except West Brom, who are level with the Eagles on nineteen
Remember when…
Last time Sunderland hosted Crystal Palace at the Stadium of Light, Yannick Bolasie scored a hat-trick as the Eagles trashed the Black Cats 4-1.
Player to watch…
Connor Wickham: The former Sunderland striker will be going up against his old team while trying to help his team end their run of 10 games without a win in the league. Wickham scored twice against West Brom during Palace’s lost on Saturday and his good scoring form will prove crucial if the Eagles are to get back in their winning ways.
Past three-meetings…
Crystal Palace 0 Sunderland 1 (Defoe), Premier League, November 2015.
Sunderland 1 (Wickham) Crystal Palace 4 (Murray, Bolasie 3), Premier League, April 2015.
Crystal Palace 1 (Brown OG) Sunderland 3 (Fletcher 2, Jordie Gomez), Premier League, November 2014.
Form guide…
Sunderland: LDLDWL
Crystal Palace: WLDLWL
Vital information…
Kick-off time: 19:45
TV: Highlights on BBC1 MOTD at 22:45, Wednesday 02 March.
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