Crystal Palace V Birmingham at Selhurst Park - Match Preview




Zaha misses out for Palace

Crystal Palace will be without Wilfried Zaha through suspension when they welcome Birmingham to Selhurst Park.

The England winger received a one-match ban from the FA following a gesture he made to Leeds fans earlier this month.

His place in the squad will go to forward Stephen Dobbie, who missed the 3-0 defeat at Brighton a fortnight ago as he is on loan from the Seagulls.

Boss Ian Holloway could also include Aruna Dindane after signing the former Portsmouth striker until the end of the season.

Skipper Mile Jedinak hopes to be available despite having only represented Australia in Sydney on Wednesday.

Joel Ward is close to fitness after a groin injury but Alex Nimely (hamstring), Paddy McCarthy (groin) and Owen Garvan (knee) miss out.

Mitch Hancox returns to contention for Birmingham's Good Friday trip but midfielder Jonathan Spector is a doubt.

Left-back Hancox has recovered from the hamstring injury which forced him to miss out prior to the international break, with versatile on-loan winger Shane Ferguson now able to push up back into midfield.

Spector was forced off with an ankle injury just minutes into Blues' 1-0 win at Middlesbrough last time out and is struggling to be ready in time for the clash at Selhurst Park.

That means Keith Fahey, who came off the bench for his first appearance since October, could start.

Jack Butland, Nathan Redmond, Callum Reilly, Chris Burke, Paul Caddis and Ferguson are all expected to be fit following their international exploits over the past fortnight.




Source: PA

Source: PA