Match preview: Selhurst Park set for a crucial midweek clash
Crystal Palace welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to Selhurst Park in a Premier League meeting that looks tilted towards the hosts on paper. The Eagles arrive 13th in the table with 32 points from 26 matches, a campaign built on defensive resilience at times but also erratic form — their recent sequence reads as one win, three draws and six defeats in the last ten outings, and their most recent Premier League result was a 2-3 home defeat to Burnley. Palace have managed 28 goals this season and have been sharper shot-wise with 307 total attempts and 100 shots on target; however, home goals stand at 13 while 18 have been conceded at Selhurst Park.
Wolves, by contrast, sit bottom of the table and have struggled all season. With only one win, seven draws and a staggering 19 losses in 27 fixtures, their defensive numbers scream trouble — 50 goals conceded in the league. Recent results offer fleeting encouragement: a 2-2 draw with Arsenal and a cup win at Grimsby, but away from home Wolves have netted just five times and kept only three clean sheets across the season. The head-to-head earlier in the campaign saw Wolves beat Palace 2-0 at Molineux, but the context of overall form and season-long numbers favours the hosts this time around.
Tactical and statistical angles to watch
Selhurst Park will be the scene where Palace’s slightly better balance — eight wins and eight draws this season — could finally exploit Wolves’ chronic defensive frailty. Wolves’ away record and low goal return away from home (5 goals) points to a side that struggles to threaten consistently on the road. Bookmakers have priced Crystal Palace as the clear favourite with home odds of 1.64 and an implied probability near 61%, while the visitors sit out at 5.10. The recent form suggests this isn’t a huge surprise: Palace still produce shots and create dangerous attacks at decent rates, while Wolves’ danger creation sits lower overall.
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Betting suggestion Crystal Palace look the most logical 1X2 pick given home advantage, superior season form and Wolves’ porous defence. The bookmakers’ price of 1.64 (approx. 60.98% implied probability) reflects those realities — a pragmatic selection is backing Crystal Palace to win on 22/02/2026 with a controlled stake.
