Even with Gareth Bale absent through injury, Al Hain-Cole expects Andre Villas-Boas' men to boast enough firepower to ensure a high-scoring match at Selhurst Park
After an eight-year absence, Crystal Palace resume life in the Premier League with a daunting home game against Tottenham on Sunday.The Eagles recorded a resounding 3-0 win in the last top flight fixture against their London rivals, but are 4/1 (5.00) outsiders with Coral to emerge victorious this time out.
Despite only winning two of their last 12 opening day fixtures, Andre Villas-Boas’ side are odds on at 8/11 (1.73) to get the season started with all three points at Selhurst Park.
The hosts have drawn four of their last six competitive matches on home soil, and you can get odds of 5/2 (3.50) on them collecting a share of the spoils on Sunday.
While the absence of Gareth Bale will certainly come as a considerable relief to the home defence, Spurs have added enough quality to their attacking ranks this summer to keep their opponents on their toes nevertheless.
Roberto Soldado’s goal-scoring pedigree suggests he could well be the clinical striker the visitors have been lacking, while Nacer Chadli and Paulinho are also more than capable of finding the back of the net from deep.With all this to contend with, it is unthinkable that a Palace back four who conceded 64 goals in the Championship last season could keep a clean sheet in this encounter, and Holloway will undoubtedly decide that attack is the best form of defence.
The former Blackpool manager is well known for his attacking approach to the game, and the replacement of the injured Jan Vertonghen by either a rusty Younes Kaboul or inexperienced Zeki Fryers is sure to help his side become the 12th in 14 Premier League games to breach their opponents backline.
All things considered, odds of 4/6 (1.67) are not to be missed on both teams getting on the score sheet, in a bet that would have paid out in 10 of the last 13 for Villas-Boas’ outfit.
In fact, with both teams sure to pile forward, it is well worth having a flutter on over 3.5 goals going in at 2/1 (3.00), as they have in four of Tottenham’s last six away league games.