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FA Cup 3rd round preview: Wolverhampton vs Crystal Palace Updated for November 2024

Wolverhampton vs Crystal Palace

Updated: 2nd November 2024

2020-21 FA Cup 3rd round preview: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Crystal Palace – Molineux stadium – Friday, 8 January 2021 – 19:45 BST

Two Premier league sides Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace will lock horns in a 3rd round clash of the FA Cup at the Molineux stadium on Friday, January 8th.

Interestingly both sides have identical points in the Premier League and are placed currently at 13th and 14th spots.

Nuno Espirito Santo's Wolves are not in the best of form having gone through their last four outings without a win that has seen them drop to the 13th place on the points table. The Eagles on the other hand have fared no better, losing back-to-back games against Liverpool and Aston Villa apart from conceding 10 goals in the process.

Roy Hodgson's side picked up a point in a 1-1 draw against Leicester City on December 28, though, before recording an important 2-0 victory over bottom-placed Sheffield United last weekend.

Wolverhampton Recent Form

Wolverhampton Wanderers FA Cup form: WWWLDL

Wolverhampton Wanderers form (all competitions): LWLDLD

Crystal Palace Recent Form

Crystal Palace FA Cup form: LWWWLL

Crystal Palace form (all competitions): DDLLDW

The Wolves are plagued with injury issues, what with Raul Jimenez, Jonny Castro and Leander Dendoncker definitely out of this contest, Center-back Willy Boly is also a doubt for Friday's home clash.

Fernando Marcal and Daniel Podence look set to start although with the latter carrying a nagging calf strain, Nuno Santo may be tempted to bench him against Palace and see him return for their forthcoming Premier league clash against Everton.

Max Kilman, John Ruddy, Owen Otasowie and Ki-Jana however could all be given a start following the Brighton clash, while Fabio Silva is again expected to be lead the attack.

As for Palace, Wayne Hennessey, Nathan Ferguson, Martin Kelly, Jeffrey Schlupp, Connor Wickham and Gary Cahill are all injured, while Christian Benteke is likely to join the long list of injuries with a fractured leg.

Hodgson is likely to make changes after the Sheffield clash with the likes of Jack Butland, Mamadou Sakho, Scott Dann, Patrick Van Aanholt and Michy Batshuayi all earning a start. Jordan Ayew should be seen in the attack along with Eberechi Eze whose spectacular goal against Sheffield and some good games before that has forced Hodgson's hand.

Wolverhampton Wanderers probable starting XI:

Ruddy (goal); Hoever, Kilman, Coady, Ait Nouri; Moutinho, Neves; Traore, Vitinha, Otasowie; Silva

Crystal Palace probable starting XI:

Butland (goal); Ward, Dann, Sakho, Van Aanholt; Townsend, McCarthy, Riedewald, Eze; Ayew, Batshuayi

Wolverhampton vs Crystal Palace Verdict – who will win?

These two are meeting for the first time in the competition since 2011. Palace look the better side on paper despite their injury problems. Moreover they come into Friday's knock-out game in better form than the hosts. Although the odds point to a Wolves win, one can surely wager on a Crystal Palace victory as it seems a risk worth taking.

Wolverhampton vs Crystal Palace Bookmaker Odds

  • Wolves to win: 19/20
  • Crystal Place to win: 3/1

Both Teams To Score

  • Yes: 1/1
  • No: 3/4

Correct score predictions

  • Wolves 1-0: 11/2
  • Wolves 2-1: 8/1 (Skybet) (predicted scoreline)
  • Wolves 2-0: 15/2 (Skybet)
  • Crystal Palace 1-0: 17/2
  • Crystal Palace 2-1: 12/1 (Bet365) (probable scoreline) 

Bet365 – odds quoted were correct as of 07/01/2021 and are subject to change. 

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