Sergio Aguero vs Martin Kelly: Tough challenge for Crystal Palace at Manchester City

Just as was the case last week, the tale of injury woe dominates the landscape as Crystal Palace look ahead to Manchester City this weekend. That landscape is largely the same, to be fair, however all who saw the ‘performance’ against Burnley on Saturday evening will testify that the absence of key players hit us hard.

Let’s start in defence.

Mamadou Sakho, James Tomkins and Scott Dann all remain out which means, barring a tactical surprise from Sam Allardyce, it’ll be Damien Delaney & Martin Kelly at the back. The thought of Kevin De Bruyne or Jesus Navas in a one-on-one with Delaney is enough to make any Palace fan’s teeth itch after seeing the woeful performance the Irishman turned in against Burnley.

It seems any semblance of pace that he did have has sadly either already left on its summer vacation or, worse, permanently moved on. He has never been the quickest of players though, so what was more troubling was his inability to compete on a whole host of other levels. He was beaten time and again in the air and the grit and determination which had made up for any technical shortcomings for so long looked like it had been washed away.

Read More: Three things we learned against Burnley

Read More: Sakho loss bigger than dropping points against Tottenham

It wasn’t just our resident ‘Paddy’ that was shown up though – collectively, our defence was battered. It’s too early to write the whole group off but it seemed as if the absence of a dominant centre-half, Mamadou Sakho in this case, really hurt the whole defensive unit. Joel Ward regressed to a performance echoing back to the kind he turned in under Pardew while neither Kelly nor Schlupp looked anywhere near as assured and competent as they had a mere week earlier.

The midfield doesn’t look too much better on the injury front either. Yohan Cabaye, who I’d praised weeks earlier as enjoying a rejuvenation under Allardyce, will certainly miss out this weekend while the other possible absence is Andros Townsend. It is only a possibility but Townsend pulled up with an injury in training this week and with the potentially decisive fixture against Hull looming next weekend it may be wise not to rush him back.

The long and the short of it then, is that we’re looking a bit light on numbers. 4 of 11 key starters will possibly miss out, with the first choice backup for defence also missing. Crystal Palace simply don’t have the squad depth to deal with that. Here’s hoping that Sergio Aguero doesn’t make it on to the team bus, eh?

Read More: Three Things We Learned From Palace’s Draw With Leicester

Read More: Anfield Glory AGAIN For The Eagles

There is one elephant in the room at the moment though. For all of my proclamations about our Premier League survival being a virtual certainty, it is just that – a virtual certainty. This weekend could final confirm our safety, gagging the more insert word Crystal Palace fans in the process.

If we, by some extraordinary miracle, beat Manchester City then that would do it. 3 points would move us onto 41 with Swansea only able to achieve the same number, but the extent of our goal difference advantage (19 goals) would essentially confirm our status. This is also predicated on Swansea beating Everton tomorrow evening, a result that would certainly be a surprise.

Interestingly though, we needn’t even win this weekend to mathematically confirm our place in the Premier League. If Everton fall victim to Everton in the late kick off tomorrow we will maintain the 6 point gap we realistically need to Swansea, but with one less game to play. Take into account our superior goal difference and survival really will be nailed on.

Even if it doesn’t happen this weekend, we really ought to put that right next weekend against Hull. It will be a tough game of course, but nobody wants to be travelling to Old Trafford at the end of May still not sure of our safety. Stranger things have happened.

Read More: Era Defining Game As Crystal Palace Humble Arsenal

Read More: England missed a trick by allowing the Ivory Coast to poach Wilfried Zaha