Derby Day looms for teams of totally different styles

By CandH blogger Allen Cummings

London derbies always hold that extra competitive edge and desire to do well over your ‘near neighbours’.

Coming out on top in a capital clash means bragging rights are just that little bit sweeter. This Saturday sees our first proper London derby of the season with the visit of Crystal Palace to the London Stadium.

We go into the game in confident mood, and why not, as we look to extend our 6 match unbeaten run. Pre match there is bound to be extra scrutiny on ‘new boy’ Roberto, making what will be his first league start, as deputy for the injured Lukasz Fabianski.

But the introduction of our new ‘keeper is unlikely to influence what would have been Manuel Pellegrini’s game plan anyway – namely to attack our visitors from the first whistle.

With Yarmolenko in excellent goalscoring form, Haller proving he’s a target man of genuine quality, Anderson capable of punishing the best of defences and our little maestro Manuel Lanzini recovered and ready to go from the off, why wouldn’t Pellegrini’s philosophy be ‘attack is the best form of defence’? A style that has been as refreshing as it’s been exciting this season.

Palace have made a decent start to the season themselves. They sit with 11 points, one fewer than us, occupying ninth place in the table, four places adrift of us. While our style is full of flair and adventure, theirs is based more on caution and containment.

Of the top nine clubs in the league, they are the only one whose goals for and against columns feature single figures. Wilfred Zaha is without doubt their biggest asset, and will require careful watching. But Ryan Fredericks, who is likely to see most of the man and his trickery, has been in impressive form himself this season.

He undoubtedbly has the pace to match the Palace man, now he’s showing the confidence of a first team regular, too.

Records show of the previous 58 encounters with Palace we have won 23, drawn 21 and lost just 14 – with four wins and no defeats in the last eight meetings.

The original Crystal Palace came crashing down in flames just over 80 years ago. If on Saturday we show the same kind of determination and directness we displayed at home against Norwich and Manchester United, Roy Hodgson’s side could suffer a similar fate!