Palace need points, and West Brom have been handing them out lately

Poor old Crystal Palace have become a byword for awful with one win, a goal difference of minus 13, and the unforgiveable error of failing to line up a replacement when accepting Ian Holloway’s resignation as manager.

With local boy Keith Millen, whose managerial CV includes two stints as caretaker manager at Bristol City and none as a Premier League manager,  making the hand gestures on the sideline, Palace seem well and truly adrift.

Yet West Brom aren’t that much, their reputation as a “decent side” this season based on their win at Old Trafford and Steve Clarke’s standing as a coach of repute.

Besides that win at United though, the only other team West Brom have managed to beat in the league has been Sunderland. And if the Baggies can win at United, then surely it’s not beyond the realms of plausibility that Palace might win at West Brom?

They’ve met twice in the Premier League before, in 2004/5. This same fixture back then ended 2-2, a repeat of which is available at 60/1.

In their favour, West Brom have had a tough schedule this season. They are in mid-table (12^th) yet have played six teams above them and only three beneath.

Against teams lower down they are yet to lose a game, although have been involved in low scoring draws against two of them (1-1 at Fulham and 0-0 at Stoke.)

Another low-scorer is available at 11/10 for under 2.5 goals, although the markets favour a festival of goals, presumably in Crystal Palace’s net, with the over 2.5 available at 4/6.

Match betting has a West Brom win at 4/7, the draw at 3/1 and a Palace win at 9/2. Remember, apart from Crystal Palace’s win against Sunderland, their record has been one of uninterrupted defeat. And although they played well enough to get themselves promoted last season, they haven’t won on the road since last March.