Shelbourne vs Crystal Palace Prediction: Eagles to soar in Dublin

Crystal Palace have had a mixed start in the Uefa Conference League but they are in a strong position with two games left to play of the league phase. They head to Shelbourne on Thursday (20:00 GMT, TNT Sports 2) who remain winless in this competition.

Below you will find my Shelbourne vs Crystal Palace predictions, aided by the latest match odds and team news.

Team News

Defender James Norris, on loan from Liverpool, will be back available for Shelbourne after serving a suspension against AZ Alkmaar on matchday four, and he could come back into back five on Thursday.

Boss Joey O'Brien is expected to pick Harry Wood in attack but he must decide who his partner will be. John Martin and Mipo Odubeko will be competing for that second attacking spot.

Jack Henry-Francis will hope to keep his place in the hosts' midfield.

Football Odds

Ismaila Sarr remains out with an ankle injury for Palace, but he should be in a position to represent Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Daniel Munoz (knee) is hoped to be back available for the Premier League meeting with Manchester City following an update from boss Oliver Glasner, but it does seem like the Colombian will not be in the squad that travels to the Republic of Ireland.

Cheick Doucoure (knee), Caleb Kporha (back), Rio Cardines (groin) and Chadi Riad (knee/fitness) are also ruled out for the Eagles.

Today's Football Fixtures

Shelbourne vs Crystal Palace Odds

The hosts are winless in the Conference League and they are 16/1 to spring a surprise and win this contest.

They did experience a draw on matchday one against Hacken and the stalemate on this occasion is marketed at 6/1.

Crystal Palace are the 1/7 favourites here and they are 4/6 (60% implied probability) to win to nil, with the hosts failing to score in this competition to date.

BTTS - No is also priced at 8/15.

To Win Both Halves - Crystal Palace @ 21/20

Given Shelbourne's struggles in Europe, this will be viewed as an opportunity Palace cannot afford to pass up. The Eagles have won two of their first four matches in the Conference League, with one of them coming away from home against Dynamo Kyiv.

Their latest away trip saw them lose to Liam Rosenior's Strasbourg, so they will look to conjure up a response here. Palace are 18th in the standings on six points, giving them just a two-point cushion inside the top 24.

With two games left to play, Glasner's men need a healthy return to at least consolidate a play-off spot, while a top-eight finish, which automatically secures an automatic place in the knockout stage.

On paper, there is a huge gulf in class between the two teams, with Palace boasting significantly more players of individual quality than the Shels. And given the fact that the home side are struggling for goals, having failed to score in three matches, Palace should have enough about them to win this one fairly comfortably.

As such, I think it's worth backing the visitors to win both halves, which they accomplished against Dynamo Kyiv on matchday one.

Clean Sheet - Crystal Palace @ 3/5

Due to Shelbourne's attacking struggles in Europe. and the fact that Palace have been a very organised defensive unit this season, I think the Eagles could be set to record a clean sheet in Dublin.

In the Premier League, Palace's defence has been breached 12 times in 15 appearances and they have kept seven clean sheets in the process. Their only shutout in the Conference League so far has come against Dynamo Kyiv but I think they will be able to keep Thursday's opponents at bay.

The hosts are goalless in their last three competitive matches heading into this one, and I think that their drought will continue.

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