Crystal Palace vs Brighton Prediction & Match Preview

Crystal Palace vs Brighton
England – Premier League
Date: Monday, 16 December 2019
Kick-off at 19:45 UK/ 20:45 CET
Venue: Selhurst Park (London).

Defense has been the hallmark for both these teams this season, and especially for Crystal Palace. It’s no wonder that these two rank high in terms of clean sheets. As such, this Monday, goals are expected few in number at the Selhurst Mark.

Crystal Palace vs Brighton Head-to-head (h2h)

• The last time these two met, Brighton won on the road, 1-2.
• Three of the four former games saw the teams at home winning.
• Five of the last nine wins went to Crystal Palace.
• Brighton have won just once at this stadium since 2005.
• The hosts kept clean sheets at this stadium in two of the last four encounters.

Crystal Palace vs Brighton Prediction

Crystal Palace were on the road the last match-day, and despite the away handicap, they managed to fight well against Watford. Keeping in line with their good defensive performances so far this season, the visitors managed to keep their nets clean for the whole of ninety minutes.

The match had ended 0-0, with both teams sharing the spoils.

In the meantime, Brighton had the home advantage the previous game week, and they were pitted against Wolves. In the four-goal affair, either team chipped in with two goal apiece to share a single point each.

Home advantage will clearly add to the strength of Palace this match-day. They are on an unbeaten run of three games, and their sole three losses in front of the home crowd this campaign had come against Leicester, Manchester City, and Liverpool.

Moreover, since August, the team has not lost against a team other than Manchester City, Chelsea, Leicester, Liverpool, and Tottenham – all of whom are in contention to finish in the top-most tier. And this whole season, the Crystal Palace have only lost against Sheffield United on the road, other than these heavyweights.

On the other hand, Brighton were winless in four of their last five games, and lost three of these as well. They also had remained winless in ten of their previous fourteen match-ups. On the road, they had lost four of their last five trips, and were winless in six of their prior seven too.

Importantly, at this venue, Brighton have won just once in the previous 14 years, and all these factors combine together to pick out Crystal Palace as the favorite this Monday. Likely, a Double Chance on them should good returns.

Going on, this Monday, once again the defensive prowess of both teams will be at the forefront in determining the outcome of the game. Crystal Palace are placed second in terms of clean sheets this season in the PL. Only defensive monster Leicester have secured more in that regards, and to quote a stat – just one extra than that of Palace.

Brighton are just below with four clean sheets in number. Add to this the fact that, the hosts of the day, Crystal Palace, have not scored more than one goal in six of their previous eight overall matches, and in 11 of their last 13 at home.

Taking into account these observations, count on the PL fixture to have under 2.5 goals this game week.

Finally, considering the upper hand of Crystal Palace, their upper hand, and Brighton’s struggles on the road, it’s highly likely that the home team will be keeping a clean sheet in the first 45 minutes.

Crystal Palace vs Brighton Betting Tips

• Double Chance: Crystal Palace or Draw @ 1.44 (4/9)

• Under 2.5 Match Goals @ 1.70 (7/10)

• Crystal Palace to Keep a Clean Sheet in the First Half @ 1.60 (3/5).