Bournemouth owe Palace a football lesson

The last time Crystal Palace met AFC Bournemouth, it felt like the Cherries were robbed of three precious points with a sucker punch from a 10-man team. Bournemouth may have been over confident, they may have expected to win when they had the man advantage, but they left the back door open when pressing forward and were undone by Jeffry Schlupp. It has to be different this time.

Bournemouth fan will hope Palace don't do the double over them.

Eddie Howe may be hoping that Palace do keep 11 men on the pith at Dean Court. Bournemouth don't do so badly when they go man to man against Palace, but this game is perhaps the first of several games where Bournemouth know they really can't fail to pick up something from the game. That means the pressure is on more than ever and Howe still has to get the players to play their open, fast-moving game, if they are to stretch this Palace side that doesn't concede often.

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The wide players are going to be extra important I feel. We have seen David Brooks back in training, but it is likely that he will be put on the bench for an introduction in the second half and Aarnaud Danjuma is perhaps another player that Eddie may put on the bench. It would give Howe more chance to tell Ryan Fraser, and perhaps Junior Stanislas, to put everything they have into the first half, knowing that there is great back up for the second 45 minutes. With Josh King also perhaps on the bench, Howe will have more options than usual going forward if he just starts with Callum Wilson up front. My feeling is that Josh will start though with Callum if he is able to.

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After all, Bournemouth need goals and they need fire power on the pitch. If Bournemouth can win possession well in the wide areas then Palace could be vulnerable, but it's clear that they are also good on the wings with Zaha and Ajew, while Van Aanholt is very adept at making overlaps. Kouyate has been the player catching the eye in recent matches for Palace, but we'll have to hope that Lerma can keep on top of him without making too many fouls. If Bournemouth can play their game they are well capable of scoring a hatful of goals at home, and the club really needs a result like that now to give it a big lift as the run-in starts in earnest.

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