Want to be the pub/terrace know-all this weekend? Want to know who has committed the most fouls? Or who has covered the most ground and put in a true captain’s performance? Then read on and let the welcome return of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index arm you with enough stats to impress everyone but girly girls.
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Hull v Swansea
Hull City will be hoping to get their Premier League survival campaign back on track this weekend after losing 1-0 to Stoke. Steve Bruce’s men are currently 14th in the Premier League and will be hoping to make their home advantage count this weekend when they entertain Swansea.
David Meyler came closest to leveling the scoreboard against Stoke but the Irishman’s blistering shot was denied by a spectacular save by Begovic. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Meyler made 24 attacking contributions (shots on target, passes, crosses and dribbles).
Shane Long is the Tigers’ top scorer this season with 6 goals so far to his name but could only manage one shot on target against Stoke. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Long has a shot accuracy of 46.3% this season and is Hull City Fans’ best hope in front of Goal this week against Swansea. He is 28/11 to score at any time with 888sport.com
Steve Bruce will be relying on Ahmed Elmohamady to provide the spark to reignite Hull’s survival campaign. The Egyptian has been instrumental in Hull’s attacking play and brings an element of unrivalled creativity to the side. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has made 767 attacking contributions this season and has 2 goals to his name. Swansea will definitely have him ear marked as one of Hull’s key danger men.
Swansea will be full of confidence following their 3-0 rout of Norwich last weekend. Swans’ star man De Guzman struck twice before Routledge made it 3 with 15minutes left on the clock. Swansea are currently 13th in the Premier League and a win away at Hull could see them put even more distance between themselves and the dropzone and go just one point behind 11th placed Aston Villa.
Jonathan De Guzmán was once again outstanding for Swansea last weekend against Norwich. The Dutchman opened the scoring early in the first half before combining brilliantly with Wilfred Bony who cleverly back healed the ball into De Guzman’s path for his second. Gary Monk and the Swansea faithful will feel that De Guzman is at the very centre of their survival hopes. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he had a 100% shot accuracy against Norwich and made 25 attacking contributions (shots on target, passes, crosses and dribbles) bringing his season total to an impressive 879; the highest at the club this season. He is 21/4 to score at anytime with 888sport.com
Jonjo Shelvey demonstrated his creative attacking ability against Norwich. The Englishman completed 35 passes in the opposition half, more than any of his team mates and made 39 attacking contributions as well as providing the assist to De Guzman’s first strike. Swans’ fans will be hoping that Shelvey puts in another impressive display against struggling Hull City.
Gary Monk will be confident that Ashley Williams can handle the attacking threat posed by Hull’s Elmohamady and Meyler. The Welshman made 15 defensive contributions (tackles won, interceptions, blocks and clearances) against the Canaries last weekend and looked comfortable under pressure. THE EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has won 45 of his 57 tackles this season, giving him a tackle win percentage of 78.9%. The Welshman also leads the way in terms of defensive contributions with 380 to his name.
Newcastle v Man Utd
Newcastle will be desperate to return to winning ways this weekend when they face Manchester United. The Magpies have lost 8 of their last 13 and are currently the lowest scoring club in the top half of the table with a haul of 38. Both Newcastle manager Alan Pardew, who is still banned from the touchline, and fans alike will be hoping that the return of Loic Remy will give them something to cheer about.
Newcastle fans will be looking forward to the return of star man Loic Remy. The Frenchman is the Magpies’ top scorer this season with 13 in 23 Premier League appearances. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has a current shot accuracy rating of 50.8% with 31 of a possible 60 shots finding the target. He is 9/4 to score at anytime with 888sport.com
Vurnon Anita was Newcastles biggest attacking threat in their embarrassing 4-0 loss to Southampton. The Dutchman made 25 attacking contributions (shots on target, passes, dribbles and crosses) The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Newcastle’s biggest creative attacking threat this season has been Moussa Sissoko. The Frenchman made 23 attacking contributions against Southampton and has made an impressive 788 in total this season.
Cheick Tioté will be expected to cope with the in form Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata, the latter of which will be full of confidence following his goal against Villa last weekend. The Ivory Coast international has won an impressive 90 tackles out of a possible 128; that’s a tackle win percentage of 70.3%.
Manchester United will be full of confidence following their defiant display against European giants Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Although enjoying just 26% of the possession, the Red Devils took the lead when skipper Vidic headed home. United could have been 2-0 at one point but Welbeck missed a one on one with the Bayern keeper. David Moyes will be confident following the Reds’ determination midweek and their 4-1 rout of Aston Villa at the weekend. The Reds are currently 7th in the table and have not given up on their pursuit of European football next season.
Although he could only watch midweek due to being cup tied, United fans will be encouraged by the performance of new signing Juan Mata last weekend against Villa. The Spaniard scored his first goal in United colours and the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he made 26 attacking contributions (shots on target, passes, dribbles and crosses).
Wayne Rooney once again played a central role in both United’s win against Villa and their defiance against Bayern Munich. The England striker found the back of the net twice at the weekend, bringing his season tally to 15. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has a shot accuracy of 50.7%. he is 6/5 to score at anytime with 888sport.com
David Moyes has suffered a series of defensive setbacks, the most recent being Rafael who limped off against Villa at the weekend. United will be glad to see the return of Chris Smalling to sure up the defense. The England defender has been out with injury but returned to training ahead of the clash with Bayern Munich. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Indicator shows that he has won an incredible 40 out of a possible 43 tackles this season in the Premier League; that’s a tackle accuracy of 90%.
Norwich v West Brom
Norwich need to bounce back from their 3-0 defeat away at Swansea last weekend. The Canaries are currently 15th in the Premier League but a win against West Brom this weekend could see them go 12th. Hughton’s men have won just 1 of their last 4 games and will relish the opportunity to damage West Brom’s chances of survival.
Robert Snodgrass came closest to scoring for the Canaries last weekend. The Scotland international fired a low powerful shot towards the goal only to have it cleared off the line. He also demonstrated his attacking creative ability with 23 attacking contributions (shots on target, passes, dribbles and crosses). The former Leeds United player is joint highest scorer for Norwich with 5 goals in 24 Premier League appearances. He is 31/10 to score at anytime with 888sport.com
Chris Hughton will be expecting his defence to make a big statement this weekend following the short work made of them by Swansea. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Alexander Tettey won 4 out of his 5 tackles and made 11 defensive contributions (tackles won, blocks, interceptions and clearances). The Norwich faithful will expect Martin Olsson to step up to the mark this weekend, the Swedish defender has won an impressive 41 of 49 tackles this season giving him a tackle accuracy of 83.7%.
The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Gary Hooper is Norwich’s most accurate player in front of goal. The Englishman has had 19 out of a possible 30 shots on target this season; giving him a shot accuracy of 63.3%.
West Brom will travel to Norwich somewhat disappointed with their result against Cardiff. The Baggies were 2-0 up in under 10 minutes thanks to strikes from Amalfitano and Dorrans but they could not stop Cardiff’s spirited fight back which saw the Bluebirds fight back to make it 2-2 before heartbreakingly equalising again after Bifouma Koulossa thought he had won it for the Baggies in extra time. Nevertheless, Pepe Mel’s men made light work of Cardiff’s 5 man defense and will be confident ahead of this weekend.
Although he didn’t feature on the score sheet, Stéphane Sessegnon played a vital role in West Brom’s attacking play against Cardiff. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he made 25 attacking contributions (shots on target, passes, crosses and dribbles). Pepe Mel will be counting him to replicate his performance, which panicked Cardiff’s defence so convincingly. He is 4/1 to score at anytime with 888sport.com
West Brom will be wary of Robert Snograss’ attacking threat this weekend especially from long range and set pieces. Jonas Olson will be crucial in West Brom’s attempts to contain the Scotsman. The Swedish defender leads the way in defence for the Baggies this season, The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has made 323 defensive contributions (tackles won, clearances, interceptions and blocks).
Amalfitano opened the scoring for the Baggies with just 2 minutes on the clock. With 3 goals this season, he is West Brom’s second highest scorer. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has had 9 out of a possible 17 shots on target this season; that’s a shot accuracy percentage of 52.9%
Chelsea v Stoke
Chelsea missed an opportunity to remain at the top of the Premier League last weekend after they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Crystal Palace. The Blues also suffered a 3-1 defeat to Paris St Germain midweek in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal. Mourinho criticised his side’s defense after the match and will expect an impressive display as the Blues look to reassert themselves as Premier League leaders this weekend.
Eden Hazard came closest to leveling the score last weekend but had his shot saved superbly by Palace keeper Speroni. Both of the Belgian’s shots were on target but Chelsea’s star man failed to find the back of the net. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Hazard is Chelsea’s top scorer this season with 14 and has had 31 of a possible 49 shots on target; that’s an accuracy of 63.3%. he is 7/5 to score at anytime with 888sport.com
Nemanja Matic demonstrated his creative attacking ability against Crystal Palace’s last weekend. The Serbian midfielder resigned for Chelsea from Benfica in January and looks settled and confident in the Chelsea team. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he made 43 attacking contributions (shots on target, passes, dribbles and crosses) included an impressive 41 passes completed in the opposition half.
Gary Cahill won 100% of the 5 tackles he made last weekend as well as making 24 defensive contributions (tackles won, blocks, interceptions and clearances). The EA SPORTS Player Performance index shows that he has won 28 of the 35 tackles he has made this season in the Premier League.
Following their win against Hull last weekend, Stoke City are on course for their best ever point total in the Premier League, needing just 8 more points from 6 games. The Potter’s have lost just once in their last 9 games and will be full of confidence as they travel to Stamford Bridge. Mark Hughes’ men will be determined to create their very own upset following Crystal Palace’s shock win last weekend.
Peter Crouch will be hoping to make the most of Chelsea’s recent defensive errors. With 7 Premier League goals this season in 29 appearances, the Potters’ frontman is their top scorer. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has had 22 shots on target out of a possible 46; that’s an accuracy of 47.8%.
Steven N’zonzi represents Stokes’ greatest creative attacking threat. N’zonzi made 35 attacking contributions last weekend in their 1-0 win against Hull. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that N’zonzi leads the way for attacking contributions this season with an impressive 763 made this season to date.
Stoke fans will be expecting more of the same from Odemwingie. The Nigerian has scored 3 goals in his last 3 games bringing his season total to 6 in 24 games. He will certainly be hoping this form continues as he currently sits just one goal behind Crouch who is Stoke’s current top scorer. He is 23/4 to score at anytime with 888sport.com
West Ham vs Liverpool
West Ham will not be intimidated by the prospect of playing in form Liverpool this weekend following their persuasive win against Sunderland. The Hammers were 1- 0 in under ten minutes after Andy Carroll muscled himself into a position to head the ball into the net before Diamé doubled West Ham’s tally after 50 minutes. Sam Allardyce will be impressed by his side’s ability to cope with Sunderland’s spirited fight back
Andy Carroll made his physical presence felt against Sunderland, using his size effectively to muscle himself past the Sunderland defense to head home early in the first half. After the match, Hammers’ boss Sam Allardyce claimed that if Carroll continues to show this sort of form, he would be on the plane to Brazil this summer. Carroll has made just 9 appearances this season in the Premier League due to injury and has only scored twice but against Sunderland he demonstrated why he should certainly be a contender for the England shirt. He is 33/10 to score at anytime with 888sport.com
West Ham Skipper Kevin Nolan has seven goals to his name this season and was unlucky not to add to his total against Sunderland. The Englishman has had 18 shots on target this season giving him a shot accuracy rating of 48.6%. However West Ham fans will feel that their greatest attacking threat will come from Mark Nobel. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that the 33 year old has made a staggering 800 attacking contributions this season (shots on target, crosses, dribbles and passes) including an impressive 750 passes completed in the opposition half.
As well as Andy Carroll’s performance, It was West Ham’s defensive capabilities which stood out to the manager. Allardyce praised his men’s ability to shut down Sunderland’s spirited come back. The manager and fans alike will expect more of the same this week against Liverpool’s attacking fire Power. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that James Collins has made 320 defensive contributions ( tackles won, clearances, blocks and Interceptions) this season and has won 46 of his 62 tackles made this season; giving him a 74.2% success rate.
Liverpool will be full of confidence but must remain focused this weekend after their destruction of Tottenham at Anfield last Sunday. Their 4-0 win put Brendan Rogers’ team 2 points clear of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table and four points clear of fellow title contenders Manchester City. Liverpool have scored 15 goals in their last 4 games and remain unbeaten in their last 13 games.
Luis Suarez looked dangerous and full of confidence last weekend against Tottenham. The Uruguayan made 24 attacking contributions (shots on target, passes, crosses and dribbles) as well as scoring and providing an assist in his sides 4-0 mauling of Tim Sherwood’s men. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he had 2 shots on target out of a possible 5 giving him a 40% shot accuracy.
Philippe Coutinho doubled Liverpool’s tally just before the hour mark with a blistering shot from 25 yards. The Brazilian has scored 4 times this season in 27 appearances and has a shot accuracy this season of 39.3%; finding the target 24 times out of a possible 61 times.
England hopeful Jordan Henderson also managed to get on the score sheet with 15 minutes left on the clock. Henderson has had an impressive season so far with the Reds and has played an integral role in their Premier League title campaign. The Englishman has made a staggering 969 attacking contributions this season and he was once again on top form against Spurs, making 25 in total including 24 completed passes in the opposition half. He is 7/2 to score at anytime with 888sport.com
Everton vs Arsenal
Arsenal will be confident ahead of their trip to Goodison Park. The Gunners displayed great resilience and commitment to stay in the match last weekend following David Silva’s goal after 18 minutes and eventually drew level just after 50 minutes with a goal from Flamini. Arsenal could have even won the tie when Podolski looked certain to score only to be denied by Joe Hart’s legs.
Arsene Wenger will be proud of his side’s resilient and determined demonstration against City last weekend. Despite the early goal, Arsenal did not look like they would capitulate as they had done against Liverpool and Chelsea, but successfully contained City’s numerous attacking threats and pushed for an equaliser. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Indes shows that Arsenal skipper Per Mertesacker led the way in defense with 13 defensive contributions (tackles won, clearances, blocks, interceptions) bringing his total this season to 315.
Santiago Carzola posed a constant threat in attack and demonstrated his impressive creative ability. The Spaniard made 57 attacking contributions last weekend and has a season total of 1167, the highest at the club. He is 4/1 to score at anytime with 888sport.com
Olivier Giroud is Arsenal’s top scorer this season in the Premier League with 13 goals to his name. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that the French international has a shot accuracy of 40.3%; finding the target 29 times out of a possible 72 shots so far this season.
Everton’s dream of European football next season looks as if it will soon become a reality if the Toffees continue in their recent form which has seen them win 5 of their last 5 Premier League games. They are currently in 5th place on 60 points; just 4 points behind forth place Arsenal. Martinez’s men will be full of confidence ahead of their convincing 3-1 win over Fulham last Sunday and will be hoping to make home advantage count against Arsenal this weekend.
Romelu Lukaku has been outstanding this season for Everton. The striker, who is on loan from Chelsea, has scored 12 times in 26 appearances. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that the Nigerian has had 35 shots on target this season out of a possible 55, giving him a shot accuracy rating of 63.6%. He is 17/11 to score at anytime with 888sport.com
Gareth Barry has made a huge impact since arriving at Everton on loan from Manchester City. The England international played a central role in Everton’s attacking movements against Fulham, making 33 attacking contributions (shots on target, crosses, dribbles and passes) bringing his season total to 978; the highest at the club.
Sylvain Distin will be expected to help Everton’s defense contain Arsenal’s attacking threats. The Frenchman has won 44 out of a possible 58 tackles this season, that’s a tackle win rating of 75.9%. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has made 349 defensive contributions (tackles won, blocks, clearances and interceptions) this season; which is the highest at the club.
Tottenham vs Sunderland
Tottenham will want to put last weekend’s 4-0 defeat to Liverpool behind them as they welcome struggling Sunderland to White Hart Lane. Spurs go into this game in need of a win if they are to have any realistic chance of Champions League football next season. Tim Sherwood’s men have got just 1 point from their last 8 against the top four so they will want to seize this opportunity to gain a much needed 3 points.
Spurs fans will be relieved that Emanuel Adebayor is set to return after a heel injury, which saw him sit out of 3 games including their loss at Anfield last weekend. Adebayor has experienced a renaissance under Tim Sherwood and is Tottenham’s top scorer this season with 8 goals in 15 games. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has had 15 out of a possible 22 shots on target, that’s a shot accuracy rating of 68.2%. He is 19/17 to score at anytime with 888sport.com
Nacer Chadli created the most chances for Tottenham last weekend but couldn’t spark his team into a comeback like that of the week before when Spurs overcame a 2-0 defecit to beat Southampton 3-2. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he made 31 attacking contributions (shots on target, passes, dribbles and crosses) bringing his season total to 364.
Spurs Skipper Dawson will be hoping to have a better game against the Black Cats this week. Dawson made 10 defensive contributions (tackles won, interceptions, blocks and clearances) but , soon after coming on as a substitute, gifted the ball to Suarez who doubled Liverpool’s tally. The EA SPORTS Player Index shows that the Englishman has made 358 defensive contributions this season.
Sunderland will want to put their Premier League survival campaign back on track this weekend when they travel to White Hart Lane. The Black Cats are currently 19th in the table, 1 point above bottom club Fulham and 4 points from safety. Although they have 2 games in hand on the other sides in the relegation zone, Sunderland face teams from the top 6 in their next 4 games so must seize every opportunity they are given.
Adam Johnson looked to have put his side back in the match last week against West Ham. The former Manchester City player scored with 25 minutes left on the clock but couldn’t spark his team into finding another. The Englishman is Sunderland’s top scorer this season with 7 goals in 27 Premier League appearances. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has found the target 13 times out of a possible 30 times; that’s a shot accuracy rating of 43.3%. He is 21/14 to score at anytime with 888sport.com
Ki Sung-Yueng will be Sunderland’s best chance of breaking down Tottenham’s defense. Ki has made 587 attacking contributions (shots on target, crosses, dribbles and interceptions) in 25 appearances.
Former Manchester United defender John O’Shea will make it his responsibility to contain Adebayor who will return for Spurs this weekend. The Irish defender has made 226 defensive contributions (tackles won, blocks, clearances and interceptions) this season and has won 34 out of a possible 44 tackles made; that’s a 77.3% tackle win percentage.
Manchester City vs Southampton 12:45
Manchester City could not capitalise on an early goal from David Silva as they eventually drew 1-1 with Arsenal at the Emirates. A spirited fightback denied Manuel Pellegrini’s side the chance to move back to the top of the Premier League and they face by no means an easy task this weekend against a Southampton side capable of beating anyone on their day.
Midfield maestro David Silva has appeared to be approaching something like his best form in recent weeks. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, the gifted Spaniard is fast approaching the 1000-pass barrier for passes completed in the opponent’s half (974) and has so far completed one on average every 1.82 minutes he’s been on the pitch this season.
Despite not grabbing the same amount of headlines as some of his colleagues, Pablo Zabaleta continues to be one of City’s standout performers this season. He’s attempted more challenges that any other City player with 128, winning an excellent 73.4% of them.
City fans may be keen for Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo to be firing up front once again but they needn’t worry with a player like Edin Dzeko also amongst the ranks. In the City squad only Aguero has a better minutes to shot ratio than the Bosnian frontman, Dzeko having an attempt on average once every 23.2 minutes this season compared to Aguero’s 20.7 minutes and Negredo’s 31.2 minutes. Dzeko is 22/23 to score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.
Southampton were rampant last weekend as they blew away Newcastle 4-0 at St Marys. England hopeful Jay Rodriguez grabbed a brace, whilst fellow international colleagues Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana also got on the scoresheet in an impressive win for the Saints. Rodriguez is 31/10 to score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.
The Saints have been back playing some exceptional football in recent weeks, with Adam Lallana unsurprisingly at the centre of some of their best play. The 25 year-old midfielder is so far the only Saints player to have moved into triple figures for both attacking contributions (135) (shots on goal, assists, crosses, dribbles) and defensive contributions (109) (blocks, interceptions, tackles won, clearances) for the season.
Luke Shaw’s stock continues to rise this season, the England youngster turning in some exceptionally mature performances for a player of his limited top-level experience. He currently has the best tackle success rate of any Saints player to have made more than 60 tackles, winning 76.6% of his 77 attempted challenges to date according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Keeping with Southampton’s England contingent, Jay Rodriguez shows no signs of dropping off in form as the season enters it’s final weeks. He’s racked up 15 goals this season, maintaining an average of having a shot on goal once every 37.3 minutes, a stat he will no doubt be hoping to improve even further before the summer.
Aston Villa vs Fulham 15:00
Aston Villa could not kick on after Ashley Westwood’s early goal at Old Trafford, eventually going down 4-1 to a rejuvenated Manchester Utd. Paul Lambert’s side were not able to takes the chances on offer in the second half and he will be looking for an immediate response against Fulham this weekend.
Fabian Delph has been a crucial part of this Aston Villa side this season, often being at the centre of both their attack and defence. The midfielder leads the Villa squad this season for attacking contributions with 90 (assists, shots on goal, crosses, dribbles), whilst also leading the squad for tackles attempted with 123 according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Christian Benteke unsurprisingly remains Villa’s most effective attacking threat this season, leading the line well as he looks to return to the same level of form as his last campaign. He’s had 53 attempts on goal, this highest in the Villa squad, with 52.8% of them working the ‘keeper.
Utilising Benteke’s physicality against a Fulham defence perhaps lacking in confidence could well be a key part of Paul Lambert’s gameplan this weekend. Marc Albrighton has whipped in more crosses that any other Villa player this season (20) and could well be tasked with keeping the imposing Belgian well-supplied with attacking ball.
Fulham were left five points from safety after they went down to a 1-3 defeat to Everton at Craven Cottage last Sunday, a second half strike from Ashkan Dejagah providing scant consolation for the Fulham faithful.
Lewis Holtby has been impressive since joining Fulham on loan from Spurs, adding further pace and dynamism to their attacking play. He’s also shown himself more than happy to track back and contribute defensively though, a key attribute for a side in Fulham’s predicament. He’s attempted 63 tackles this season, winning an excellent 79.4% of them according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Scott Parker has continued to be the rock in the Fulham midfield this season, completing more passes in the opponent’s half than any other Fulham player. He’s racked up 529 and an impressive average rate of one every 3.66 minutes he’s been on the pitch.
Combatting the qualities of Christian Benteke will no doubt be crucial to Fulham’s chances of success this weekend, a task with which Fernando Amorebieta could well be charged with. He’s completed more clearances than any other Fulham player this season with 128 to his name.
Cardiff vs Crystal Palace 15:00
A last minute goal from Mats Moller Daehli saw Cardiff grab what could prove to be a truly crucial point against West Brom as they drew 3-3 in a thrilling encounter at The Hawthorns.
Jordon Mutch’s excellent form appears to be showing no signs of deteriorating for the remainder of the season. He’s notched up seven goals to date, a result of his 34 attempts on goal and corresponding 52.9% shot accuracy rate according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
It will be a clash of the midfield enforcers this weekend when Gary Medel takes on Mile Jedinak for supremacy in the middle of the park. Cardiff’s Chilean international remains the only Cardiff player to have moved into triple figures for tackles attempted with 113. Winning a solid 62.8% of them.
Craig Noone has clearly remains more than happy to take on opposition defences this term, leading the Cardiff squad as he does for dribbles this season with 38. Noone is 5/1 with 888sport.com to get on the scoresheet and score at any time this weekend.
A fine performance from Crystal Palace at the always intimidating Selhurst Park saw them pull off one of the results of the season with a 1-0 over title hopeful’s Chelsea. The deciding factor proved to be an own-goal from John Terry but it was a win that was all that Tony Pulis’ side deserved after a highly impressive all-round performance.
Mile Jedinak was at his imperious best against Chelsea last weekend, stifling a much-vaunted Blues midfield and providing the platform for their historic win. This is the kind of form the Australian has been maintaining for much of this season though, the Palace captain attempting more tackles than any other Palace player with 137, winning 73.7% of them, as well as completing more passes in the opponent’s half than any of his colleagues with 476 according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Jason Puncheon remains one of Tony Pulis’ best attacking outlets, racking up the highest number of attempts on goal of any Palace player. He’s let fly on goal a total of 41 times this season, 11 ahead of his nearest teammate in Yannick Bolasie. Puncheon is an industry best 9/2 with 888sport.com to score at any time this weekend.
As if a testament to the hard work this Palace side are willing to put in for one another this season, they now have a total of eight players (Puncheon, Ward, Chamakh, Jedinak, Delaney, Gabbidon, Mariappa and Moxey) who have moved into triple figures for the season for defensive contributions (blocks, interceptions, tackles won, clearances). It is exactly this kind of attitude which Tony Pulis likes to see from his teams and you can expect them to be fighting for every point from now until the end of the season.
