A Lifeline for Palace here?

Sometimes the difference between the way journalists and bookmakers look at things can be quite amusing. Wigan have been beating Premier League teams, including Manchester City, on their way to the FA Cup quarter-finals and the newspapers can see another giant-killing act on the way against Southampton.

Bookmakers know that one game has precious little bearing on another and, even though Southampton have been hopeless in front of goal on their way to a relegation struggle, the fact remains that they are still two divisions higher than Wigan. Also, it may not take Mark Hughes all that long to settle in, given how many of the current Saints squad he tried to sign for Stoke.

The layers have overrated the Saints from day one this season and they make the same mistake in offering 23/20 about the visitors in this match. 7/4 would be about right but Hughes may well start off on the right foot and a small bet is in order.

In recent games I’ve thought that Crystal Palace might have shipped more goals – certainly true against Chelsea – but that they still looked dangerous on the break themselves. They move it forward very quickly and, if Zaha, Benteke and Townsend are all available, they will score against most teams.

Huddersfield have done well in their first season in the Premier League but average only a goal a game at home and could not put one past ten-man Swansea. I think they may be surprised by Palace’s willingness to go for everything in this crucial match as opposed to playing for a draw and the 17/10 about the visitors is just about acceptable if hardly exciting.

• CRYSTAL PALACE 20 units at 17/10 to beat Huddersfield
• SOUTHAMPTON 15 units at 23/20 to beat Wigan