Crystal Palace vs Burnley Prediction: Glee for Glasner on debut

The Oliver Glasner era at Crystal Palace kicks off at 15:00 on Saturday afternoon with a home game against a struggling Burnley side.

The Austrian head coach was in the stands at Goodison Park on Monday night as the Eagles earned a creditable 1-1 draw with Everton under caretaker boss Paddy McCarthy, but the south London side will be expected to pick up all three points at Selhurst Park this weekend to pull away from the bottom three, where the visitors reside in 19th.

Vincent Kompany's men haven't won since December 23, picking up just two points from their last seven Premier League matches, and the clock is ticking for the Belgian boss to find the answers with the Clarets currently seven points from safety.

Team News

Glasner's start to life in south London isn't helped by injuries to four key players - Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, and Cheick Doucoure. Will Hughes is also doubtful after missing Monday's action at Goodison Park.

Against Everton, Palace lined up with Sam Johnstone in goal and a three-man central defence of Joel Ward, Joachim Andersen and Chris Richards, flanked by wing-backs Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell. Adam Wharton and Jefferson Lerma provided further protection in the middle of midfield, with Jordan Ayew, Odsonne Edouard and Jean-Philippe Mateta in attack.

The Eagles were solid, if unspectacular against the Toffees, and with Jesse Marsch and Jamie Carragher highlighting Glasner's preference for a three-man defence on Monday Night Football, one wonders whether the Austrian might replicate the starting XI on Saturday. Matheus Franca headlines a limited group of players waiting in the wings if he does opt for a change or two.

There's probably greater uncertainty over the make-up of the Burnley line-up, despite the relative longevity of Kompany. A 5-0 defeat in your last match - regardless of the fact Arsenal are in a title race - isn't a good look, and the likes of Johann Gudmundsson, Charlie Taylor and Jay Rodriguez could come into the thinking of the manager if he is looking for some experience to shore the side up.

Match Odds

The home side are 19/20 to get back to winning ways on Saturday, with the draw at 12/5 and victory for the visitors priced at 3/1.

Both teams have scored in six of Burnley's last eight Premier League away games, and it's 5/6 for a seventh in nine on the weekend.

Crystal Palace to win and both teams to score - Yes @ 16/5

Saturday's game pits two of the Premier League's poorest defences against each other. Only Sheffield United (65) have shipped more goals than Burnley (55) this season, and there are only two further clubs (Luton Town - 55, AFC Bournemouth - 46) that have conceded more than Crystal Palace (44).

The hosts haven't kept a clean sheet in their last five league outings, with both teams finding the net in the last four, while you have to go even further back to find the Clarets' last shutout, which was back on December 23. Of those seven games that they failed to keep a clean sheet in, though, they scored in five of them.

At home, and looking to impress a new manager, Palace should have enough to take all three points on Saturday. They won the reverse fixture 2-0 in November, and that was achieved without Olise for the entirety of the match, and with Eze only introduced on the hour-mark.

The Eagles have also won two of their last three at home, both against relegation rivals, while only Fulham (seven) and Sheffield United (five) have picked up fewer points away from home than Burnley (eight).

Joachim Andersen to score anytime @ 15/2

The Denmark international has scored twice in the Premier League this season, which is already his highest total for a campaign, but hasn't found the net since September 30.

He should get a few chances to add to his tally on Saturday, though. Burnley have conceded at least six corners in each of their last six league games, giving away 49 in total across the period.

Kompany's side have allowed 13 goals from set-piece situations this term, with only Nottingham Forest (15) shipping more.

Scoring from set-pieces has been difficult for Palace this season, but with Eze and Olise still out, they are likely to prove more crucial this weekend.

Andersen averages just under a shot every game, but should get a few opportunities to break his goal drought here. At 15/2, I like the odds of him doing so.

Check out the rest of our Football Betting Tips here.