Man City v Crystal Palace Tip

Rampant Manchester City are just 1/7 (Boylesports) to beat Crystal Palace at fortress Etihad with the visitors way out at 28/1 (Bet365) - the longest price at Premier League side has been to win a match all season.

It would take a brave, and some would say foolish man, to predict that City will lose their 100% home record to the favourites for relegation, but it might not be as plain sailing as the oddsmakers would have you believe.

BetVictor go a best price 15/4 on the match getting to half-time level, before common sense prevails and Pellegrini’s title favourites take the points. The key to this bet certainly appears to be the first half, so can Palace hold their own for 45 minutes?

Defensive statistics from the past couple of months would suggest that, with luck on their side, and any hint of complacency from the hosts, this could just happen. The Eagles actually have the best goals against record in the entire top flight since 9 November having only conceded six goals in their last eight matches, including five clean sheets.

Tony Pulis has his boys well drilled and they will arrive in Manchester on a high after a thrilling last gasp 1-0 victory at Villa Park on Boxing Day. Backing the underdogs to hold out for a while could be lucrative, and we have the price to take our chances.