Crystal Palace vs Sunderland: Premier League match preview

Crystal Palace go into their Monday night fixture against Sunderland without a win in three Premier League fixtures. Sunderland are still struggling for confidence after their 8-0 capitulation at Southampton and a calamitous defensive display against Arsenal last weekend.

Neil Warnock will be very disappointed by the fact that his team threw away a two goal lead at The Hawthorns, dropping two important points in the process. The Eagles have failed to string together a run of positive results all season and this will need to be addressed quickly if the side hope to remain in the Premier League. Much of the talk at the club this week has revolved around off field issues but Warnock knows as well as anybody that it is the stories on the pitch that are most important.

Gus Poyet has a massive task on his hands as he looks to reinstall belief in a squad that has continued to make inexcusable mistakes in recent weeks. It was clear that the Sunderland players had not recovered from their eight goal drubbing at St Mary’s when they faced Arsenal, leading to further errors. Sunderland occupy the third relegation position and fans are growing increasingly concerned that their team will remain there unless drastic changes occur.

An important fixture for both teams.

KICK-OFF: Monday, 8pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Sunderland 0 Crystal Palace 0, Premier League, March 2014

Crystal Palace 3 (Gabbidon, Gayle, O’Keefe) Sunderland 1 (Fletcher), Premier League, August 2013

Sunderland 0 Crystal Palace 0, Championship, January 2007

ODDS…

Crystal Palace to win: 1.96

Sunderland to win: 1.67

Draw: 1.56

TV: Live on Sky Sports 1 at 8pm