Six-pointer alert! We’ve had a few of them already this season, but tomorrow’s game really is a crucial one.
Take the spoils against Blackburn and we could find ourselves a solid four points ahead of the relegation spots going into next week’s trip to Old Trafford.
That would guarantee Palace would be placed above the drop-zone come Christmas Day. A defeat, on the other hand, could see the Eagles slip back into the bottom three by Saturday evening.
Palace have once again avoided too many knocks going into the game – with Aki Riihilahti now fully recovered from his Achilles injury. Gonzalo Sorondo is also back in the reckoning and should find himself a place on the bench.
Blackburn have far more problems to deal with. Rovers midfielder Tugay is facing at least a month on the sidelines after crocking himself during training, and the visitors have several other injuries too. Matt Jansen, Lorenzo Amoruso, and Youri Djorkaeff will all miss out on tomorrow’s game.
Probable Palace XI:
Kiraly
Boyce Hall Popovic Granville
Routledge Watson Hughes Riihilahti Kolkka
Johnson