West Midlands v London: Villa play Palace and Hammers host WBA

All is quiet on New Year’s Day… until the football kicks off anyway.

Coral preview relegation candidates Crystal Palace (6/4 for the drop) and West Bromwich Albion (15/8) away at Aston Villa and West Ham United respectively in battles between Midlands and capital clubs.

Aston Villa v Crystal Palace
While Paul Lambert’s lads edged the reverse fixture 1-0 on December 2nd, both teams drew their last outing of 2014 0-0. A repeat scoreline is a 7/1 shot, while a share of the spoils whatever the result is a safer 9/4.

Because they beat Palace down at Selhurst Park 30 days ago, Villa start as 11/8 favourites to complete a league double over the Eagles, which is something the south London side did themselves last season.

Caretaker Keith Millen seems set to remain in charge of Palace, even if Alan Pardew can be persuaded to leave Newcastle United for a return to his old team from his playing days. The Eagles are 2/1 chances to beat Villa here.

Belgian striker Christian Benteke proved the difference between these two teams last time out, so is odds-on at 4/5 to net again anytime. If punters back him to score first, then a tasty 10/3 is on offer.

Palace’s victories over Villa in 2013/14 came courtesy of Dwight Gayle (15/8 anytime scorer chance) and Jason Puncheon (longer at 7/2). Millen may rotate his squad here, so both have a decent chance of being involved because of the congested festive fixture list.

England international Fabian Delph will be missing from the hosts’ midfield, while this may be the last outing for influential Eagles winger Yannick Bolasie before he depart for international duty with DR Congo at the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.

Palace will definitely be without captain Mile Jedinak, who has already left to link up with the Australia squad ahead of his country hosting the Asian Cup.