Statistical Preview: Cardiff vs Crystal Palace

A truly last minute goal from Mats Moller Daehli saw Cardiff grab what could prove to be a truly crucial point against West Brom as they drew 3-3 in a thrilling encounter at The Hawthorns.

Jordon Mutch’s excellent form appears to be showing no signs of deteriorating for the remainder of the season. He’s notched up seven goals to date, a result of his 34 attempts on goal and corresponding 52.9% shot accuracy rate according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.

It will be a clash of the midfield enforcers this weekend when Gary Medel takes on Mile Jedinak for supremacy in the middle of the park. Cardiff’s Chilean international remains the only Cardiff player to have moved into triple figures for tackles attempted with 113. Winning a solid 62.8% of them.

Craig Noone has clearly remains more than happy to take on opposition defences this term, leading the Cardiff squad as he does for dribbles this season with 38. 

A fine performance from Crystal Palace at the always intimidating Selhurst Park saw them pull off one of the results of the season with a 1-0 over title hopeful’s Chelsea. The deciding factor proved to be an own-goal from John Terry but it was a win that was all that Tony Pulis’ side deserved after a highly impressive all-round performance.

Mile Jedinak was at his imperious best against Chelsea last weekend, stifling a much-vaunted Blues midfield and providing the platform for their historic win. This is the kind of form the Australian has been maintaining for much of this season though, the Palace captain attempting more tackles than any other Palace player with 137, winning 73.7% of them, as well as completing more passes in the opponent’s half than any of his colleagues with 476 according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.

Jason Puncheon remains one of Tony Pulis’ best attacking outlets, racking up the highest number of attempts on goal of any Palace player. He’s let fly on goal a total of 41 times this season, 11 ahead of his nearest teammate in Yannick Bolasie. 

As if a testament to the hard work this Palace side are willing to put in for one another this season, they now have a total of eight players (Puncheon, Ward, Chamakh, Jedinak, Delaney, Gabbidon, Mariappa and Moxey) who have moved into triple figures for the season for defensive contributions (blocks, interceptions, tackles won, clearances). It is exactly this kind of attitude which Tony Pulis likes to see from his teams and you can expect them to be fighting for every point from now until the end of the season.