Norwich face tough test at Crystal Palace’s football fortress

A combination of Norwich City’s poor form on the road and Crystal Palace’s new found resilience could make the hosts the ones to back for a win at Selhurst Park this New Year’s Day.

Tony Pulis’ newly-invigorated charges can be backed at 7/5 for victory over their relegation rivals, and given recent form, they look good value at the price.

Palace have been entirely different beasts under the former Stoke man, with solid displays against title-chasers Chelsea and Manchester City, with the Londoners unlucky to not come away with at least a point from one of those two fixtures.

Crucially alongside these fine displays though, Pulis’ team have been picking up points where it counts, with victories over fellow strugglers Cardiff City and Aston Villa.

It was the latter victory which saw the club finally move out of the relegation places and with confidence high at the club, the visit of Norwich should pose few problems.

Chris Hughton’s side may have beaten West Brom away from home back in early December, but since then the Canaries have failed to pick up another win, drawing with Sunderland and losing to Fulham in the process.

Norwich City can be backed at 19/10 to claim victory here with a draw available at 23/10, but if they are to do just that, much could rely on the form of star striker Gary Hooper.

The former Celtic man has been the main source of joy for the East Anglian club in recent weeks, scoring three of the club’s last four Premier League goals.

He was the match-winner when these sides met earlier in the season and he can be backed at 6/1 to grab the first goal of the game here, while Hooper to score and Norwich to win is at 4/1.

Meanwhile, Palace’s chances of victory could hinge on Marouanne Chamakh, with the Moroccan also a 6/1 shot for the first strike of the game.

The former Arsenal forward is back in contention following suspension, and having found the net in both of their previous two home victories in the league, should be backed to score in a Palace victory at odds of 10/3.

Dwight Gayle may be relegated to the bench for this one, but at 9/4 he looks a good shout to repeat his stoppage-time heroics against Villa with a goal here.

Elsewhere, with both teams failing to score in five of Palace’s last six games, the odds of 10/11 on another one-sided contest could provide a bonus win of the day.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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