Crystal Palace v Tottenham Tip

Crystal Palace play their first Premier League match in eight years on Sunday and Eagles fans are treated to a glamorous TV showdown at home to Spurs to really whet the appetite. The visitors have the chance to make an early statement that they could be dark horses for the title race this season.

Surprisingly, Palace have an enviable record in this fixture having only lost one of their last six top flight games with Tottenham. Furthermore, the north Londoners are typically slow starters having only taken three points from two of the past 12 opening-weekend fixtures (W2 D4 L6).

So reasons for optimism for the hosts, you would think, but in truth such historical statistics will have little or no bearing on the outcome here. More importantly, Ian Holloway’s boys are hugely inexperienced at this level and just happy to be here. Meanwhile Spurs were a good team last term now enhanced by the big bucks arrivals of Roberto Soldado (£26m) and Paulinho (£17m). This is a mis-match.

Quite simply, there is no convincing analytical reason to think there will be an upset at Selhurst Park. But that’s not to say that Palace will immediately fold. The confidence that comes with promotion and strong home support could make life difficult for AVB’s superstars in the early stages at least.

Tottenham also travel without the injured Bale so it could take some time to adapt to life without their main man while integrating the new faces.

Due to all this, the value may come in the half-time/full-time market. Tottenham are not terribly appealing to back simply for the away win at best odds of 3/4 (StanJames) but to do so after being level at the break seems much more tempting at 4/1 with WilliamHill.