Brighton vs Crystal Palace Predictions

• Crystal Palace are winless in 12 matches in all competitions
• Brighton have drawn four of their last five home fixtures
• Six of the last 13 meetings between these two have finished 1-1

Beleaguered pair are hard to trust

Crystal Palace are sliding down the Premier League standings at an alarming rate and they remain in danger of being dragged into the relegation scrap and things may not improve on this trip to bitter rivals Brighton.

Billed as a derby dust-up in the loosest of terms, this south-coast contest looks set to be a real war of attrition as hosts Brighton are in not much better shape than Sunday’s visitors.

Backing a draw is our prediction as neither side can be trusted to secure a victory in a match which each will be determined just not to lose.

That could lead to a cagey contest, and the Seagulls have become used to those, as four of their last five home matches have finished all-square.

Between them they have drawn 18 times in the league this term and November’s 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park featured just five shots on target in a long-forgotten stalemate.

Things might be slightly better in this return fixture but it’s unlikely the floodgates will open at the Amex Stadium.

Seagulls have seen it all before

Four of Brighton’s last five home matches have finished 1-1 and their may be a feeling of deja vu among the Amex faithful on Sunday afternoon.

A derby draw isn’t the worst result usually but both sides need more as they each slip down the table faster than they would like.

Palace’s last visit yielded a 3-1 victory but those were the heady days of joy when there was a great team spirit and the Eagles were all flying in the same direction.

Since then, club captain Marc Guehi has left, boss Oliver Glasner has said he will leave and top scorer Jean-Philippe Mateta had one foot out of the exit door only to be dragged back inside following the collapse of his move to Milan on transfer deadline day.

It’s a sorry situation at the home of the FA Cup holders right now, and spirits are unlikely to be lifted by a jaunt to the seaside on Sunday where a 1-1 draw looks the best bet for correct-score purposes.

Pin your hopes on Pino

Mateta’s mood is unlikely to be good and it remains to be seen if Palace’s top scorer will be trusted to take part on Sunday, so it may pay to look elsewhere for a goalscorer option, although it’s not an easy call as goals haven’t easy for either side to come by.

Danny Welbeck is one reliable source for Brighton but at better odds it may pay to throw a dart at Palace livewire Yeremy Pino.

The Spanish attacking midfielder has bagged six goals for club and country this term, including two in his last four outings for Palace.

Both of those came on the road and he could improve that sequence at the Amex Stadium on Sunday.