TEAM NEWS

Aston Villa captain Micah Richards is fit despite limping off with a foot problem against Wycombe on Saturday.

Gabriel Agbonlahor is a doubt with a back problem while Jack Grealish is battling to shake off tonsillitis.

Crystal Palace's Connor Wickham is in contention to feature after returning to training following a calf injury.

Yohan Cabaye will be assessed after suffering a knock against Southampton at the weekend but Yannick Bolasie remains sidelined with a leg problem.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

Alistair Mann: "Without a league win since the opening day of the season, or a home victory all campaign, it's difficult to anticipate Aston Villa's fortunes changing against a Crystal Palace side whose away record is the envy of most in the Premier League.

"Alan Pardew's men have only lost twice on their travels and demonstrated in the FA Cup at the weekend that they are away day specialists.

"A section of the Villa faithful vented their frustrations at Wycombe as the team left the field after yet another winless expedition.

"It's going to take something extraordinary to restore their faith: home victories against Palace and then Leicester on Saturday would be an encouraging - unexpected - start."

Twitter: @alistairmann01 

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Aston Villa manager Remi Garde: "Every week I'm speaking about confidence but we have to try to have more confidence.

"I'm not waiting on a parcel in the post that will be full of confidence. We have to be professional and generate it for ourselves."

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew on the transfer window: "We've been linked with a couple of defenders: there will be no defenders coming to this football club.

"We've been linked with a couple of midfield players: there will be no midfield players coming to this club.

"But we are looking for an offensive player, a striker-type player, someone who's going to contribute to a goal tally, which is an area we'd like to improve a little bit.

"We're chasing one or two, and hopefully before the end of January we'll secure someone."

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Aston Villa have lost four out of the last six league meetings between the teams (W1, D1).
• Villa have scored just once in the last three games in which they have hosted Palace in the league. However, it was a spectacular effort, and one that earned Lee Hendrie the Goal of the Month award for September 2004.
• Bakary Sako's late winner earned Palace a 2-1 win when then sides met at Selhurst Park in August.
• The corresponding fixture last season ended 0-0 and was Palace's last game before Alan Pardew took charge.

Aston Villa

• Aston Villa's Premier League winless run now stands at 19 games (D5, L14) - the joint fourth-worst ever.
• Villa are the only top-flight side not to have won at home this season (D3, L6).
• Villa have conceded the opening goal of a Premier League game on a league-high 15 occasions in 2015-16.
• Aston Villa's tally of eight points is the third lowest after 20 games of a Premier League season. Only Sunderland (six) in 2005-06 and Derby (seven) in 2007-08 had lower totals at this stage. Both were relegated.
• Villa have kept just two clean sheets in this season's Premier League.

Crystal Palace

• Crystal Palace are unbeaten in their last four league matches away from home (W2, D2).
• Palace have the best away defensive record in the Premier League, conceding just seven goals in their nine away games this season.
• But they have failed to score in their last three league games.
• Palace were in the relegation zone with 17 points after 20 games last season. This season they are seventh with 31 points.