PREVIEW: Palace aim to strengthen their qualification chances on the road against Shelbourne | OneFootball

Oliver Glasner’s side have impressed in what is their debut European campaign and will look to cement their place in the round of 16 with a win over Shelbourne.

Crystal Palace continue their hectic Christmas schedule with a trip to Ireland to face Shelbourne. Glasner’s men come into the tie buoyed by back-to-back Premier League victories over Burnley and Fulham, the latter secured courtesy of a late Marc Guéhi header.

That win lifted Palace into fourth place in the Premier League, underlining their strong domestic start. However, their Conference League form has been far less consistent.

Two wins and two defeats from their opening four games have left the FA Cup holders sitting 18th in the league phase and in need of a strong result to reassert their European credentials.

Despite sitting only two points off eighth place, Palace must recover from a disappointing outing against Strasbourg, where they surrendered a one-goal lead in a 2–1 defeat.

Their hosts Shelbourne have made history as only the second Irish club ever to reach the group stages of a European competition. However, they are still searching for their first win of the campaign, with just one point from four matches. Shelbourne are also the only side yet to score a goal in this season’s league phase.

A goalless draw with BK Häcken was followed by narrow defeats to Shkëndija (1–0), Drita (1–0) and AZ Alkmaar (2–0). That loss to AZ a fortnight ago leaves the Irish side 34th in the 36-team table and four points adrift of the knockout play-off spots with only two games remaining.

A contributing factor to their struggles may be the lack of domestic action. With the Irish league concluding in November, Shelbourne have not played competitively outside the Conference League since their defeat to AZ.

They finished third in the league, seven points behind champions Shamrock Rovers, and do not resume domestic play until February.

As a result, their full attention is now on salvaging something from their European adventure and keeping faint hopes of a knockout play-off place alive.

Shelbourne will be boosted by the return of Liverpool loanee James Norris, who is available again after serving a one-match suspension against AZ.

The 22-year-old is expected to slot back into the heart of their five-man defence. Summer signing Jack Henry-Francis, formerly of Arsenal, is also available and could return to the midfield.

Crystal Palace, meanwhile, will again be without Daniel Muñoz, who missed the win over Fulham due to injury. The right-back is not expected to feature as Palace prepare for their upcoming Premier League clash with Manchester City.

Ismaïla Sarr remains sidelined as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury before departing for AFCON duty with Senegal.

Predicted Line-Ups

SHE: Speel; Mbeng, Barrett, Ledwidge, Norris, Kelly; Henry-Francis, Lunney, Mclnroy; Wood, Odubeko

CRY: Henderson; Canvot, Lacroix, Guehi; Clyne, Lerma, Hughes, Sousa; Devenny, Pino; Nketiah