Crystal Palace vs Brentford: Evenly-matched sides could deliver another draw

Brentford and Crystal Palace have drawn each of their previous five Premier League meetings. One place separates them in the table. This one is going to be evenly-matched…

Palace come into the match in rotten form. Winless in eight games, Roy Hodgson’s side have looked desperately below-par. The positive impact of a 2-2 draw at Manchester City during that run was tempered by defeats to the likes of Luton Town and Bournemouth. There’s no point getting something against the big teams if you’re losing to everyone else.

Brentford are in a similarly difficult period to their opponents. Thomas Frank’s side has won one and lost four of their last five games. The gloss and glow of two seasons spent overachieving in the Premier League has given way to a belated reversion to the mean. 

Two teams who always draw with each other, both seemingly incapable of winning in recent weeks. If you haven’t guessed what one of our tips is going to be yet then you haven’t been paying attention.

Team News:

Crystal Palace have ruled goalkeeper Sam Johnstone out with a calf problem. Injuries to Odsonne Edouard’s knee and Rob Holding’s ankle will keep the pair out of the game too. They will be joined on the sidelines by long-time Eagles absentees Cheick Doucoure, Joel Ward and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.

Brentford will be without Rico Henry, Kevin Schade, Aaron Hickey, Bryan Mbeumo, Kristoffer Ajar and Josh Dasilva. Ivan Toney continues to serve his ban while Ben Mee is suspended after a red card against Aston Villa.

Match Odds:

As expected for a clash between two teams in the same boat, the odds aren’t miles apart here. Crystal Palace are 5/4 to claim a rare victory while Brentford are 23/10.

Of course, given the history of these sides, the draw is the one we’ve been waiting for. A sixth instance of shared honours in the Premier League is priced at 9/4. Speaking of…

Match Result - Draw @ 9/4

Sometimes you can’t fight fate. Five draws in their five previous meetings. Faltering form on both sides of the equation. One place and one point separating Brentford and Crystal Palace in the league. All signs point to a draw here.

Of course betting is rarely that simple, but truthfully who do you back here? Hodgson’s eight-match winless Eagles? Brentford who have only taken three points once in five games? Sometimes the most obvious answer is the best one. Honours even. Job done.

Correct Score - 1-1 @ 11/2

The last three clashes between these sides have resulted in 1-1 draws, with the two previous games finishing 0-0. Brentford haven’t kept a clean sheet since October and Palace’s last one came in early November. You have to think somebody’s defence is faltering at some point in this one.

Traditionally low-scoring affairs, this latest iteration looks set to follow suit given the form guide going in. It might not have thrills and spills written all over it, but this will be a tight, well-matched affair.

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