Crystal Palace v Bournemouth: Adebayor to remind all of his quality

Michael Lintorn
02 February 2016

Crystal Palace stirker Emmanuel Adebayor always begins brilliantly when he links up with a new club

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Emmanuel Adebayor isn't fully match-fit, but he is good enough to earn headlines when Crystal Palace host Bournemouth...

"Adebayor is a massive improvement on Crystal Palace’s other options in the position and surely a great bet to score at any time at 3.185/40, having fired on his Premier League debuts for his three prior sides Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham."

Crystal Palace 2.526/4 v Bournemouth 3.259/4; The Draw 3.3512/5
Tuesday, 20:00

Crystal Palace

It has been yet another case of all aboard the Alan Pardew aquaplane with his latest employers Crystal Palace, who have shifted from five Premier League victories in eight to start the season to one win in five after that to six unbeaten, before hitting a horrid four-match losing streak.

At least there has been a logical explanation for this current lean spell as it coincided with an injury suffered by winger Yannick Bolasie. Since the Congolese international left the side, the Eagles have only scored once in six top-flight fixtures, and that was courtesy of a Jan Vertonghen own goal.

Unfortunately, Bolasie is still out, as potentially are Joe Ledley and Dwight Gayle, though another prospective key influencer - Yohan Cabaye - could make an immediate return days after his FA Cup outing against Stoke ended prematurely. His injury isn't thought to be as serious as initially feared.

Bournemouth

If it was a concern for Bournemouth that they flopped at home to West Ham on the maiden home appearances of January additions Benik Afobe, Juan Iturbe and Lewis Grabban, it is one that they have responded to very encouragingly.

The Cherries recovered by going three games without a loss and they were the kind of contests that they could ill afford not to either. They dismissed fellow Premier League newcomers and perceived bogey team Norwich 3-0, crucially avoided defeat away to another relegation rival in Sunderland by drawing 1-1 - Afobe netting in both clashes following an uninspiring debut - and then rallied from behind to avoid a confidence-crushing FA Cup upset against Portsmouth from three divisions below.

If they are to maintain that momentum against Palace, they will have to handle the usual dispiriting list of injuries. In fairness, they are used to coping without Tyrone Mings, Max Gradel and Callum Wilson, but would appreciate having Junior Stanislas back quickly after an impressive few months.

Match Odds

Crystal Palace aren't as convincingly priced as you might expect at 2.526/4 to win this 11th-versus-16th collision, and there are several reasons why the lack of faith in them from punters feels justified.

For starters, they are without a triumph in three league encounters at Selhurst Park, being held at home by lowly Swansea and then giving up three goals each to Chelsea - who hadn't won away since August at the time - and Tottenham.

Pardew's men failed to beat Bournemouth in the Boxing Day meeting at the Vitality Stadium, sharing a stalemate, and the south coast club are even trickier to slay on their travels, going four without a reverse in all competitions while their sole setback in eight was a highly excusable one at Arsenal.

To Score

There have been a lot of question marks over recent Palace recruit Emmanuel Adebayor's fitness due to not making a competitive appearance in England since last May and the 31-year-old claiming on social media that he has a sore ankle. However, Alan Pardew doesn't seem at all alarmed, instead stating that there is a "good chance" of the new arrival featuring.

As detailed here, the Togolese striker is a massive improvement on the south Londoners' other options in the position and surely a great bet to score at any time at 3.185/40, having fired on his Premier League debuts for his three prior sides Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham.

Recommended Bet:

Back Adebayor to score @ 3.185/40