Time for a little Bet Builder – a #PickYourPunt, on the Palace/Forest clash on Saturday, Oct 7th, 17.30.  An attractive, tea-time TV treat.

Just three points and three places currently separate these two in the Premier League table, and both will have realistic hopes of climbing further by Saturday early evening.

Crystal Palace to Win

I’m having a little change of tack. 11/5 isn’t arguably the kind of price associated with classic Bet Builders but I’m going all out to try and win it, trading a big price for, hopefully, a greater chance of success. As I say with alarming frequency, little fish still taste as sweet; and 11/5 isn’t too shabby in my book.

I like watching Palace. We’re all fans at the end of the day, and it’s not hard to warm to their habitual playing style. They’re fairly comfortable in 9th place ahead of the weekend’s matches, and the remarkable Roy Hodgson continues to have a very positive influence on proceedings.

He helped steer the Eagles away from the relegation zone last term after taking over from Patrick Viera, gathering 18 points from his 10 games in charge to finish 11th. He’s a huge, calming influence on the football club.

Forest, despite having an enormous influx of players last year and this, are often a very obdurate, well-drilled and difficult opponent. They may have issues scoring enough goals, but can be pretty secure at the back on a going day.

I’ve formed the view that Palace can take this at Selhurst Park, but that it will be tight.

Crystal Palace First Team To Score 

Cards on the table. I see this as a 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 to Palace. That’s my view, and it’s what’s behind the whole rationale for the Bet Builder. Forest lost only 2-0 at Manchester City. They won by the odd goal at Chelsea. There’s competence there, organisation, grit.

They’ve also lost some key players though, notably Brennan Johnson to Spurs. For Palace, they have the likes of Eze (how good is he by the way?), Doucouré, Édouard; just three of the several goal threats that have stepped up post-Zaha; in scoring action himself this week against another old club, Man Utd, for Galatasaray.

Sadly injury will rob them of Eze for some weeks to come, while Édouard is fighting to be there. More focus and emphasis on Jordan Ayew, then.

Not hard to envisage Palace knocking at the door and being eventually rewarded.

Crystal Palace Under 2.5 Team Goals

However – will that open the floodgates? I think not – and it could take Palace quite some time to register that score. For our purposes they can leave it until the 90th minute if they like – but in any event this element of the Bet Builder is effectively saying I don’t see Palace scoring three or more.

Famous last words I hear you cry – hey, we’ve all been there. It’s my view, and it will be fabulously educated, or spectacularly awry. I’m seeing a competitive match that Palace will edge, having opened the scoring, but that they won’t bag more than two. Forest could find the net but not, for me, any points.

It should be a fascinating contest and I look forward to viewing. Good luck, if you’re having a little interest.