Despite conceding 15 shots and seven on target against Everton at Goodison Park last weekend, Wolverhampton Wanderers pulled off a 1-0 win. Sasa Kalajdzic’s 87th-minute goal secured Wolves their first points of the Premier League campaign.
Goalkeeper Jose Sa was in fine form for Wolves against Everton, making several remarkable saves to keep the Toffees off the scoresheet. Wolves now go to Crystal Palace looking for a second straight win. However, Wolverhampton lost on their last three trips to Selhurst Park.
No way, Jose 😲@josesaoficial | @AWNetworks pic.twitter.com/SGYIcLMbA0— Wolves (@Wolves) August 27, 2023
No way, Jose 😲@josesaoficial | @AWNetworks pic.twitter.com/SGYIcLMbA0
Crystal Palace took four points from the opening nine points on offer. A 1-0 opening-day win away to Sheffield United was followed by a 1-0 home loss to Arsenal. The Eagles picked up a 1-1 draw at Brentford last weekend, coming from behind to get a point.
Palace posted a record of four wins and two losses against Wolves in their last six matches in all competitions. The teams combined for 25 yellow cards across their last six games.
Tempers were high in those games. The teams averaged 4.2 yellow cards in the last six matches.
Wolves have struggled to score goals, tallying just two this season. Meanwhile, the defence allowed five to opponents. Poor finishing continues to plague Wolves’ attacking players.
Gary O’Neil’s team recorded the most yellow cards in the opening three matches. Ten yellow cards were given out to Wolves players, which could result in multiple cards being handed out on Sunday.
Six of Crystal Palace’s last seven games ended with under 2.5 goals. There is a chance that Sunday’s game will be low-scoring.
Palace are surprisingly fourth in the league in shots per game, with 17.7. Their two goals scored in three matches show the Eagles are not the best finishers.
Roy Hodgson will be without forward Michael Olise once more. The winger continues to recover from a thigh injury. This is the third straight start to a Premier League season that Olise has missed.
Midfielder Matheus Franca is ruled out along with midfielder Will Hughes due to their respective injuries.
Wolves have agreed to sell midfielder Matheus Nunes to Man City. Man City are expected to send academy graduate Tommy Doyle to Wolves in part exchange. Striker Hee-Chan Hwang is ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Crystal Palace won their last three games against Wolves at Selhurst Park. The Eagles should make it a fourth straight win over the old Gold at home, with a narrow 1-0 victory.