Hello and welcome to
Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between
Crystal Palace and
Burnley at Selhurst Park. Both sides will be looking to register their first victory of the season this afternoon following a winless start to the campaign.
The early league standings don't paint a truly accurate picture, however, and following positive results last time out which saw both sides pick up their first point, today could provide a real launch-pad into midtable. This afternoon's clash kicks off at 3pm, so let's take a look at how the teams line up.
CRYSTAL PALACE STARTING XI: Speroni, Ward, Delaney, Dann, Mariappa, Jedinak (c), McArthur, Puncheon, Zaha, Campbell, Gayle
BURNLEY STARTING XI: Heaton, Trippier, Shackell (c), Duff, Mee, Arfield, Jones, Marney, Boyd, Ings, Jutkiewicz
So Adrian Mariappa remains in the heart of the Palace defence alongside
Scott Dann, while James McArthur - signed from Wigan Athletic on transfer-deadline day - comes into the starting XI. There's also a start for Wilfried Zaha, who recently returned to Selhurst Park on loan from Manchester United following a disappointing spell with the Red Devils.
Meanwhile, Burnley manager
Sean Dyche has made one change to his team with club-record signing George Boyd being handed a starting spot at Selhurst Park, meaning that fellow new recruits Nathaniel Chalobah and Michael Keane will have to wait for their debuts.
BENCH WATCH:
CRYSTAL PALACE: Hennessey, Fryers, Kelly, Ledley, Williams, Bolasie, Doyle
BURNLEY: Gilks, Reid, Ward, Long, Wallace, Sordell, Barnes
Kevin Doyle is named on the bench for the hosts this afternoon along with Ezequiel Fryers, plus Welsh trio Wayne Hennessey, Joe Ledley and Jonny Williams fresh on the back of their voyage to Andorra in midweek. Stephen Ward and Stephen Reid are still waiting in the wings for the Clarets, meanwhile, being made to wait for their full Burnley debuts.
He struggled to make an impact at Man United and Cardiff City, but there's no doubting that Zaha is a real handful when at his best - a return to Selhurst Park may reignite his career.
Well both sides have been tipped by many to drop down to the Championship at the end of the season, with Burnley in particular having to fend off the doubters due to their transfer budget. Dyche was given the funds to bring in Boyd on transfer-deadline day, however, and the former Hull City winger could provide the spark needed to get the Clarets up-and-running this season.
Burnley actually got their season off the a flyer, taking the lead against Chelsea and Turf Moore on the opening weekend, only for a Diego Costa-inspired Blues side to romp to victory in the end. A narrow defeat to Swansea City followed, while a goalless draw against a Man United side still trying to find their feet offered real hope last time out.
The majority of season previews put together over the summer concluded that Palace would comfortably avoid the drop this campaign under then manager Tony Pulis, with a strong end to last season continuing through to this. That all changed when the Welshman departed 48 hours before the opening game, though, with a shock appointment of former manager
Neil Warnock following soon after.
It means that Palace are now considered one of the favourites for the drop alongside today's opponents, although it must be said that the South London outfit have spent well. Frazier Campbell showed last season with Cardiff that he can find the net if offered the right service, while Brede Hangeland - kept out of the team today by Mariappa - was also a smart capture. Zaga, McArthur and Doyle also strengthen Warnock's options, but can the team click together from the off?
Will Palace's vociferous supporters make the difference today?
With a little over 20 minutes to go until kickoff at Selhurst Park, there's still time check out the
Sports Mole team's predictions:
Looking back at the last time these teams met, Junior Stanislas's strike proved the difference as Burnley ran out 1-0 winners in the Championship encounter. Earlier that season it was a different story as Palace came out on top 4-3 in a thrilling match in South London, with the Eagles gaining promotion to the top tier later that campaign.
In fact, Burnley have failed to win at Selhurst Park in their last nine attempts, although with this the first ever Premier League meeting between the pair, it really should be a tightly-fought encounter.
PREDICTION: That said, I think Palace will just about come out on top this afternoon, with Campbell bagging his first league goal in Palace colours. 1-0.
It will of course be an emotional return for
Neil Warnock this afternoon in his first home game back at Palace since 2010. His appointment came as somewhat as a surprise when it was made, although in truth he was probably the right man for the position after Tim Sherwood and Malky Mackay missed out for different reasons.
Today's visitors will be looking to spoil the party, though, and make no mistake about it, this match will be seen as a real opportunity to pick up a first victory of the season. Goals, or a lack of them, have been Burnley's downfall so far, with
Danny Ings unable to get off the mark having made the step up to the top flight.
The partnership of Sam Vokes and Ings lit up the Championship last season, although the former's injury was a real blow for the Clarets coming into the season. Lukas Jutkiewicz and wideman Boyd are the men tasked with bagging the goals now alongside Ings, and looking at the way Burnley have set up today, surely their run of 340 minutes without a goal in all competitions will soon come to and end?
The players are now in the tunnel, and kickoff is just a few minutes away. It's far too early to claim that this is a must win game, but of course three points will make a huge difference to both sides at this early stage.
Burnley and Palace occupy the bottom two places in the Premier League table, but a win today could lift a cloud from over both and take them into midtable. A loss, however, and it's already a case of looking up the rest of the table.
A minute's applause well conducted ahead of kickoff in memory of David Whyte who passed away earlier this week.
KICKOFF! Burnley get the game underway at Selhurst Park.
An early corner for Burnley is cleared away. Fantastic atmosphere being created by the Palace supporters as ever.
PENALTY APPEAL! A real positive start from the visiting side in the early stages, and
Danny Ings looked to have won his side a penalty. He went down under a challenge from
Damien Delaney on the edge of the box, but referee
Mike Dean booked the Clarets striker for diving. It's an extremely tight call, but Ings's lack of appeal suggests that the officials got the call right.
OFF THE BAR! Great opening to the contest, with Palace coming close on a couple of occasions. First, Delaney managed to turn in the box before getting a strike away which deflected over for a corner, before Scott Dann saw his headed effort come crashing off the crossbar. So close to an opener!
Mariappa and Puncheon have linked up well so far, and they almost created another opening, but that headed effort off the bar the closest we've come to a goal so far.
OFF THE LINE! So, so close for Palace yet again! This time it was Zaha who came close to breaking the deadlock, cutting inside before firing a shot away which Tom Heaton kept out, but Jason Shackell was still needed to clear the ball away.
Some decent link-up play between Dwight Gayle and Campbell sees the latter get a shot away, but it is dragged well wide of goal. Palace are the side asking all the questions right now, pushing Burnley up the field constantly.
Burnley have managed to respond to the Palace pressure, with
Scott Arfield looking to pick out Ings with a ball from inside his own half, and if not for a bad first touch the striker would have been in on goal. Mariappa was caught out by Boyd moments later, but nothing came of the opening.
Another half-chance for Burnley, as Trippier picks out Arfield inside the box. The tight angle worked against the midfielder, though, and he fired wide. Palace have had by far the better chances so far, but Dyche's charges are growing in stature.
This game is incredibly open right now. Puncheon, who has made a positive start to the contest, gets a shot away at goal which is easily handled by Heaton, while at the other end Arfield's pass across goal is pounced on by Speroni.
CHANCE! Great chance for Gayle to put his side ahead. The ball fell to the former Peterborough United man inside the box, but unaware that he had time to compose himself, he rather lashed at the effort which flew well over the target.
A rare breather in the game, with a lack of chances in the last few moments. Boyd has looked impressive for Burnley with his burst of pace often enough to turn defence into attack, but a rare poor pass denied the Clarets the opportunity to carve Palace's defence open.
Burnley win a couple of corners as they up the ante, but they fail to make the most of the spell of pressure, with Palace defending with relative ease.
Zaha once more uses his pace to break away, but his cross fails to find a teammate. It's been an entertaining opening 30 minutes to this match, but so far no goals.
Trippier has taken a boot to the face following a cross into the box. Gayle is the man who caught the defender, but there was no intention whatsoever. Trippier doesn't look to be in too much pain thankfully.
Burnley finding more space on the ball now in the middle of the field as we move into the final 10 minutes of the first half. The Palace backline are standing firm, though, clearing any crosses into the box.
The game has gone really scrappy over the last 10 minutes or so. No chances of note, although Ings looks to have picked up an injury, going down clutching his hamstring.
SUBSTITUTION! Ings will not be able to continue this afternoon, but just how long will this injury keep him out? Huge, huge blow for Burnley who are now without Vokes and Ings. Marvin Sordell is the man who replaces him.
Palace looking to finish the half strongly, and they manage to win a corner after some nice interchange between the forward trio. The resulting set piece comes to nothing, however, with Burnley clearing their lines.
HALF TIME: CRYSTAL PALACE 0-0 BURNLEY
Well following an entertaining start to the contest, the game was awfully sloppy in the final 20 minutes. Dann came closest to opening the scoring on seven minutes when his header came back off the bar, while Zaha saw his effort cleared off the line.
Burnley have failed to create any big openings, although they have looked lively at times, with Ings's penalty appeal early on forcing the referee into a big decision which went against the striker. Ings was later withdrawn with what appears to be a hamstring injury, which could now see him miss the next few weeks at a minimum.
BENCH WATCH:
CRYSTAL PALACE: Hennessey, Fryers, Kelly, Ledley, Williams, Bolasie, Doyle
BURNLEY: Gilks, Reid, Ward, Long, Wallace, Barnes
Attacking options for both teams to turn to at the interval should they wish, although Dyche has of course already been forced into one change with Sordell replacing Ings. Bolasie is always a danger out wide, while Doyle will surely be raring to go after joining Palace on transfer-deadline day.
Jutkiewicz has seen service to him inside the box limited so far
It would be wrong to suggest that the first half was one-sided, but in terms of shots, Palace managed to get seven attempts away with Burnley restricted to just one solo effort. That particular statistic will have to change in the second half if the Clarets are to come away with a point or more.
SECOND HALF! The second 45 minutes now underway at Selhurst Park - let's hope for an equally entertaining start to this half!
Boyd charges at Mariappa down the left-hand side, although he fails to get the better of the Eagles defender as the second half gets off to a slow start.
DOUBLE CHANCE! The first chance for either side in a long, long time. Mile Jedinak headed the ball across goal at the back post, and Gayle was inches away from touching the ball home as he slid in. Moments later a corner whipped into the box was met by Delaney who found the side-netting. Much better.
YELLOW CARD! Sordell is booked following a challenge in the middle of the pitch.
Jutkiewicz pounces on Jedinak's poor back pass, but he lacks the pace to get beyond his man and having been forced into a shot from distance he can only find the side-netting.
YELLOW CARD! Puncheon is the first Palace player to be shown a yellow following his tug on Boyd's shirt.
SHOT! Campbell is the latest Eagles man to try his luck, but the his cleanly-hit strike can only find the side-netting once more.
SHOT! James McArthur, who has probably been his side's best player so far today, takes the ball down on the edge of the box before firing a volley narrowly over the bar. The chances are coming thick and fast now.
SUBSTITUTION! Doyle is brought on for his Crystal Palace debut, replacing Campbell who has failed to make an impact on his 28th birthday.
SHOT! Arfield drives forward and unleashes a goal-bound effort which Speroni does well to push over. Arfield had options then, but he can't really be blamed for taking the shot on.
Zaha once more finds himself in space out wide, but having worked his way into the box he fails to pick out a teammate. This game is very open now.
SHOT! This game hasn't had too many flowing moves, but Burnley almost opened up Palace with some fine teamwork. Arfield and Sordell linked up on the edge of the box, before the latter picked out David Jones who looked to steer the ball into the bottom corner, only for Speroni to keep it out. Good play.
SUBSTITUTION! No dream return to Selhurst Park for Zaha, who is replaced by Bolasie with 20 minutes remaining.
Burnley win a free kick in a promising central position; Trippier initially strikes the wall before winning the ball back and finding Arfield who curls an effort narrowly over.
SUBSTITUTION! Williams is the final Palace player to be introduced, replacing Gayle.
The two substitutes Williams and Bolasie show their fresh legs by bursting up the field on the break, but having linked up well they fail to pick out a teammate between them.
SHOT! Williams involved again, and this time the Welshman manages to get a strike away which fails to test Heaton. Palace look the more likely to make the breakthrough right now, but it's still too tight to call.
A dangerous moment for Palace as Speroni comes for a cross into the box but fails to catch it. As it is the ball sailed out of play, but Jutkiewicz wasn't a million miles away.
Palace win possession out wide, but a poor cross into the box sees the attacking move come to and end. A sign of the game overall in terms of wide play, it must be said.
PENALTY TO BURNLEY! Jedinak has struggled at times today, and he left the referee with no choice but to award a penalty after dragging down Jutkiewicz at the back post.
PENALTY SAVED!! Arfield stepped up to take the penalty, but Speroni was equal to it with a fantastic save. This will feel like a victory for Palace now should his side hold on!
Burnley have another chance to test Palace with a set-piece, with the hosts looking particularly shaky from free kicks, but Jones's cross floats into the hands of Speroni.
SHOT! Joel Ward sees the ball laid into his path on the edge of the box, but the Palace defender curls his effort wide of goal. That is the first time Palace have had the ball in an advanced position for a while.
YELLOW CARD! Boyd takes one for the team by pulling back Puncheon who was looking to break.
FULL TIME: CRYSTAL PALACE 0-0 BURNLEY
So Burnley and Palace remain winless in the Premier League after four games following an at times entertaining goalless draw at Selhurst Park. The best chance for a winner came with six minutes remaining, but Arfield was unable to convert from the spot.
It was not quite the homecoming that Neil Warnock pictured pre-match, but it is a point nonetheless which sees Palace, and indeed Burnley, move up the table.
Stick around on Sports Mole with a match report to follow, plus a full analysis and player ratings from Selhurst Park. For now, thanks for joining us.