Cardiff vs Crystal Palace
Premier League 2018-19
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
Date: Saturday, May 4, 2019
Kick-off: 5:30pm BST
Cardiff will be in the last-chance saloon as far as their Premier League survival chances are concerned when they host Crystal Palace in front of the television cameras this evening desperately needing to win.
A victory over Brighton coupled with the Seagulls' dismal form had raised hopes of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship for Neil Warnock's side, only for their chances of staying up to be dealt a significant blow with a narrow defeat at already-relegated Fulham last weekend.
That result - coupled with Brighton's draw with Newcastle - means 18th-place Cardiff sit four points adrift of safety and will see demotion confirmed if they do not better Brighton's result at Arsenal. That latter game takes place on Sunday.
Looking to seal the Bluebirds' fate and inadvertently aid their rivals in the process is a Crystal Palace team who currently sit 12th after following a memorable win at Arsenal with a goalless draw at home to Everton.
Roy Hodgson's men secured their own safety with three matches to spare and will already have one eye on planning for next season.
Cardiff vs Crystal Palace team news and line-ups
Cardiff XI: Etheridge, Peltier, Morrison, Ecuele Manga, Bennett, Mendez-Laing, Gunnarsson, Victor Camarasa, Josh Murphy, Reid, Ward
Subs: Richards, Zohore, Bacuna, Cunningham, Brian Murphy, Healey, Hoilett
Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Wan Bissaka, Kelly, Dann, Ward, Townsend, McArthur, Milivojevic, Zaha, Batshuayi, Ayew
Subs: Van Aanholt, Meyer, Kouyate, Hennessey, Wickham, Sako, Riedewald
Referee: Michael Oliver
Score prediction: Cardiff 1-1 Crystal Palace
With the second worst home record in the league, Crystal Palace's season has been built on their impressive away form.
The Eagles have won eight of their 18 road matches so far this term and have plenty of speed in wide areas to prove devastating on the break.
A win might well not be enough to save Cardiff given that they have to go to Old Trafford on the final day, while a draw - which seems a likely outcome - would all but relegate them even if Brighton lose due to a vastly inferior goal difference.
