Punch Drunk

With Christian Benteke sidelined, nobody on the pitch at Selhurst Park will have scored more than five league goals all season. Jason Puncheon has struck that many since the turn of the year and should be somewhat shorter than 10/1 (Paddy Power) in the first goalscorer market.

The former Southampton man was the Premier League’s performer of the day last Saturday when he found the net twice as Palace gained a vital 3-0 victory at Cardiff City.  Puncheon rated 10/10 on whoscored.com after a virtuoso display saw him have six attempts in total; he could easily have had a hat-trick.

We ought not to be too surprised given that the 27-year-old has averaged 2.3 shots per game in 2013-14. To put that in perspective that’s more than 14-goal Eden Hazard (2.1) and very threatening for a winger.

Villa have lost three on the bounce, conceding 10 in the process while the Eagles have won back-to-back without conceding at all. With that in mind we have to back a home player and Puncheon is the obvious selection based on form and statistics.

Paddy Power are not only offering best price on the market but they will also refund a losing FGS bet as a free bet if your pick scores the second or third goal of the match instead. This promotion applies to all 3.07 kick-offs on Saturday with the Irish firm.