Preview: Crystal Palace v Wolves: The 'E' word?

Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers previews the clash.

Preamble

Two players (Helder Costa and Jonny Castro Otto) called up for their countries for the first time, Nuno Espirito Santo up for manager of the month, Willy Boly up for player of the month...it's been a good week for Wolves and they haven't even played.

The whole club is riding the crest of a Premier League wave after an unbeaten run of five matches that's propelled them to the top half of the table and just three points off the Champions League places.

More importantly Wolves are 10 clear of the relegation zone – not that anyone at Molineux is even contemplating the 'R' word this season.

Nope, they're more likely to be uttering the 'E' word and if Wolves' form and fitness allows them to, they'll keep this going as long as they can.

With three clean sheets from four matches, Wolves look hard to beat. If they can start laying on the goals at the other end (having only netted eight in seven so far) then they really will be a top flight force to be reckoned with.

Palace have yet to score at home this season and Wolves have only netted twice away, so a low-scoring game would appear likely.

After beating West Ham, Burnley and Southampton in September, Wolves will now look to do the same to Crystal Palace, Watford and Brighton in what is a great opportunity to climb the table further in October.

Do that and it'll be "Nuno had a European dream". These are heady days indeed.

The opposition

Luke Hatfield spoke with two reporters who cover Palace to get the lowdown on the Eagles.

Team news

Nuno said at Friday's pre-match press conference that he has a fully-fit squad to choose from, meaning Helder Costa has recovered from the knock that forced him off against Southampton last weekend.

The head coach must decided whether to name the same XI for the EIGHTH league game in a row, or perhaps draft in Ivan Cavaleiro and/or Adama Traore after their match-winning contributions from the bench of late. Costa and Diogo Jota have yet to provide a goal or an assist between them so far.

Connor Wickham and Scott Dann are closing in on Crystal Palace returns after horrendous injury lay-offs that have seen them sidelined since November 2016 and December 2017 respectively, but despite returning to training this game comes too soon for the pair.

Christian Benteke is out with a knee injury and isn't likely to return until afternoon the international break, meaning Palace could be unchanged from the team that lost 2-1 at Bournemouth on Monday.

Wayne Hennessey is likely to play against Wolves for the first time since leaving the club in 2014.

The academy graduate played 166 times for the club before departing during the League One title-winning campaign in acrimonious circumstances.

Likely line ups

Crystal Palace (4-3-3): Hennessey; Wan-Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, van Aanholt; Kouyate, Milivojevic, McArthur; Townsend, Ayew, Zaha.

Wolves (3-4-3): Patricio; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Moutinho, Neves, Otto; Costa, Jimenez, Jota. Subs: Ruddy, Hause, Saiss, Vinagre, Cavaleiro, Traore, Bonatini.

Key players

Crystal Palace – Wilfried Zaha

‘Zaha is like Messi’ said his former Palace boss Frank de Boer this week. While that might be pushing it a bit, there’s no doubting Zaha’s talent – and his importance to this Palace team. Has scored eight in his last 12 Palace appearances, stretching back to last season. Still aged only 25.

Wolves – Ryan Bennett

A key performer for Wolves so far this season and he’ll need to be at his positional best (as will Matt Doherty) to stop dangerman Zaha when he’s cutting in from the left.

The bosses

Roy Hodgson: "Wolves pose a threat. Their start has been excellent, they're a good team. We've watched them as much as we can. It's going to be a big test, we're preparing for a difficult game."

Nuno Espirito Santo: "We are ready and able to adapt to any scenario that we come across in the game. Even when you are not having the ball you have to stay consistent."

Form

Crystal Palace LWDWL

Oct 1: Bournemouth 2 (Brooks 5, Stanislas pen 87) Crystal Palace 1 (Van Aanholt 55)

Sep 25: West Bromwich Albion 0 Crystal Palace 3 (Townsend 6, 81, Van Aanholt 76) *Carabao Cup

Sep 22: Crystal Palace 0 Newcastle United 0

Sep 15: Huddersfield Town 0 Crystal Palace 1 (Zaha 38)

Sep 1: Crystal Palace 0 Southampton 2 (Ings 47, Hojbjerg 90+2)

Wolves WLDWW

Sep 29: Wolves 2 (Cavaleiro 79, Otto 87) Southampton 0

Sep 25: Wolves 0 Leicester City 0 (1-3 on pens) *Carabao Cup

Sep 22: Manchester United 1 ( Fred 17) Wolves 1 (Moutinho 53)

Sep 16: Wolves 1 (Jimenez 61) Burnley 0

Sep 1: West Ham United 0 Wolves 1 (Traore 90)

Past five meetings

Jan 1, 2013 (Ch): Crystal Palace 3 (Moritz 31, 52, Bolasie 40) Wolves 1 (Ebanks-Blake 75)

Oct 2, 2012 (Ch): Wolves 1 (Ebanks-Blake 53) Crystal Palace 2 (Zaha 67, 73)

Feb 2, 2010 (FA Cup): Crystal Palace 3 (Butterfield 62, 65, 68) Wolves 1 (Henry 90)

Jan 23, 2010 (FA Cup): Wolves 2 (Jones 37, Zubar 84) Crystal Palace 2 (Lee 3, Ambrose 49)

Mar 3, 2009 (Ch): Crystal Palace 0 Wolves 1 (Ebanks-Blake pen 74)

Referee

Michael Oliver (Northumberland)

Oliver's second visit to Selhurst Park this season – he sent off Aaron Wan-Bissaka during Palace's 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in August. Has shown 17 yellows and two reds in seven matches in all competitions.

His last Wolves game was back in 2013 for a 3-3 League One draw at Rotherham.

Match odds

Crystal Palace 15/8, draw 11/5, Wolves 8/5