Brighton v Crystal Palace: Rivalry can fuel a Zaha card

Andy Schooler
15 March 2023
1:30 min read

Wilfried Zaha: Good card record against Brighton

Brighton and Hove Albion vs Crystal Palace
Wed 15 Mar, 19:30

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Our football props column was back in the winners' circle on Tuesday night and now we have a 13/1 shot for Brighton v Palace in the Premier League on Wednesday.

Zaha carded four times in 14 games v Brighton
Veltman set to face most-fouled PL player
Bet Builder card double pays around 13/1

It's the derby which isn't really a derby but the rivalry is certainly real.

There will certainly be plenty of bad feeling between the two sets of supporters who gather at the Amex Stadium on Wednesday night, as there has been since the 1970s when things really began to get a bit tasty between two clubs who, for all the 'derby' criticism, are only around 40 miles apart.

One way that will be transferred onto the pitch is via the Brighton fans' goading of Wilfried Zaha.

Palace's star man is sure to be targeted by the home support, never forgiven for his play-off brace here a decade ago.

And it's not usually that hard to get under the Ivorian's skin.

It's no surprise to see he's been carded four times in 14 appearances against Brighton.

In the last four, he's committed 2+ fouls in each, while also being fouled himself 13 times - he'll be targeted on the field too.

If that's not a recipe for a card, I don't know what is.

Throw in referee Peter Bankes, averaging 4.31 cards per game this season, and backing Zaha for another card in this fixture makes sense.

With Palace struggling for goals, it's expected that Odsonne Edouard or Jean-Philippe Mateta will be recalled here, a move which would likely see Zaha moved back out to the left of the attack.

With this in mind, I'm also ready to back Joel Veltman for a card.

Brighton and Hove Albion

Crystal Palace

Brighton and Hove Albion 5 0 Grimsby Town
Brighton and Hove Albion 1 0 Crystal Palace
Leeds United 2 2 Brighton and Hove Albion
Brighton and Hove Albion 4 0 West Ham United
Stoke City 0 1 Brighton and Hove Albion
Newcastle United 0 0 Brighton and Hove Albion

Arsenal 4 1 Crystal Palace
Brighton and Hove Albion 1 0 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace 0 1 Manchester City
Aston Villa 1 0 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace 0 0 Liverpool
Brentford 1 1 Crystal Palace

Brighton and Hove Albion vs Crystal Palace Wednesday 15 March, 19:30

Full stats

Veltman's foul numbers have calmed down this season but the Dutch right-back - set to continue there with Tariq Lamptey still struggling with an injury - looks set for a testing time if he's up against Zaha, who this season is once again the most-fouled player in the Premier League (on the fouls-per-game metric).

Veltman is not someone who will back down from a challenge either and it's not difficult to envisage him improving the stat which shows he's been carded in two of his last 10 starts.

The Bet Builder card double pays close to 13/1.

Obviously check the team news an hour before to see if the formations meet expectation - you can always cashout and then replace your bet in such a scenario.

Back Zaha & Veltman both to be carded @

13.58

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