Postpublished at 26 mins

26 mins

Crystal Palace 0-0 West Brom

Image source, Reuters

West Brom try to replicate a free-kick move from the training ground as Saido Berahino moves towards the ball on the right and feigns for Chris Brunt to try and hit it, but Palace are quick to converge on him and prevent the shot hitting the target, also leaving the Baggies midfielder on the turf.

He is down with good reason as well, with blood streaming from a busted nose. He'll need to go off to clean that up. Palace are systematically taking the Northern Ireland squad apart!

This is a blow for West Brom. Summer-signing Jonny Evans is forced to leave the game with an injury. James Chester - another new recruit - replaces him, going to right-back, with Craig Dawson moving to the centre.

The latter may well welcome this to take him away from Yannick Bolasie.

The West Brom players aren't happy. They feel they should have a free-kick on the edge of the box after the marauding James Morrison is felled by what looks to be a foul from Brede Hangeland. 

However, referee Jonathan Moss is pretty emphatic with his two-armed sweeping gesture of 'nothing doing'.

David Pleat
Former Tottenham manager on BBC Radio 5 live

"Two shots from Bolasie and one shot from Zaha from Palace, both at Myhill, while West Brom have only had one shot from McClean. All poor efforts so far.

"On the evidence of the first 16 minutes Palace are holding sway, they are having the majority of the ball and looking slightly more dangerous."

Image source, PA

Palace are looking the more dangerous at the moment, but they have yet to produce anything to really hurt West Brom. The potential is there, though, particularly through the pace and trickery of Wilfried Zaha, Jason Puncheon and Yannick Bolasie.

Palace step up the pace and put some pressure on the West Brom defence. Zaha beats his man down the right and swings over a cross, which is only half-cleared and the  hammered back towards goal by Jason Puncheon for Boaz Myhill to save.

It has been a pretty tame 15 minutes so far. However, we do have our first yellow card as James McClean goes through Pape Souare after the ball has gone.

It is the first genuinely poor challenge. It got what it deserved. 

West Brom waste a chance to fashion something down the right as James McClean returns Craig Dawson's throw straight out of play.

A minute later, McClean hammers a long-range effort well over the bar. It wasn't the worst effort. Not the best either. It is a sign, though, that having kept it tight for 10 minutes, the Baggies are willing to open up a bit.

Craig Dawson is having a bit of a mare. He gives the ball away to Jason Puncheon with a wayward pass but, fortunately for the Baggies defender, the Palace man is unable to fashion anything with possession.

Soon after, Wilfried Zaha has space to charge in to and cuts inside his man before pulling his shot from 10 yards wide of the near post. He should have done better. 

Image source, Getty Images

A Couple of corners for Palace. West Brom defend well, though, and keep the home side out. The Baggies clear, but to nobody, as all their players are in their own half. 

Palace come again as Yannick Bolasie beats Craig Dawson on the left but his low shot is saved by Boaz Myhill.

As usual, it is a noisy old atmosphere at Selhurst Park. Pape Souare takes a bad tumble going for a header in the Palace left-back position, but after dusting himself off he is OK to continue.

Saido Berahino has the first effort with a chip from the edge of the box that floats over the bar. 

And we are under way.

Reports of James Morrison's poor health have been exaggerated and he takes his place in the West Brom starting XI.

Image source, Getty Images

While Tony and Alan may well be sitting in a tree later this afternoon, for a couple of hours this lunchtime all pleasantries are suspended. There are three important Premier League points at stake, after all.

Palace can go level on points with second-placed Manchester City with a win, while West Brom will move up to ninth with a victory.

Here come the teams...

Trevor Sinclair
Former England winger on Football Focus

Image source, Getty Images

"His performances as a manager have been top drawer, he made a very difficult job at Newcastle go well.

"He's had a bit of money to spend at Palace but the way they are playing and creating goals is a breath of fresh air."

Martin Keown
Former Arsenal defender on Football Focus

"If on a scouting mission, Jonny Evans' performance against Aston Villa was that good I'd wan him in my team, he was that good.

"Maybe he lost his way with Louis van Gaal but Tony Pulis is similar to Sir Alex Ferguson, maybe his simplicity of management suits Evans down to the ground." 

Steve Wilson
BBC Match of the Day commentator at Selhurst Park

Image source, Rex Features

"Nobody at Crystal Palace should be under any illusions about the thanks they owe Tony Pulis. 

"From rock bottom to mid-table, in the twinkling of an eye the Welshman ensured that the foundations of success were laid. 

"What Alan Pardew has achieved in an equally short space of time is perhaps even more impressive. Palace have every right to think that they can qualify for Europe with what must be their finest team in more than two decades."