Wolves v Crystal Palace

• 20:00 GMT on BT Sport Box Office
• Match odds:

Wolves and Crystal Palace head into this meeting with near identical records after starting the season with three wins, two defeats and a draw. Sitting ninth and eighth respectively, they're separated by a solitary goal and the only teams outside the bottom seven with a negative goal-difference. It emphasises the likelihood of a tight contest at Molineux.

Nuno Espirito Santo's men let two points slip through their grasp last time out as a last-minute free-kick from Newcastle's Jacob Murphy denied them what would've been a deserved third successive 1-0 win; my scoreline of choice on Friday night.

Palace's last two performances have been poles apart, as Brighton prevented them from having a single shot in open play - their only effort came through Wilfried's Zaha's successful penalty - before Fulham gave up 14, with 10 of those on target. The freedom they were afforded by Scott Parker's defensively porous side last week will not be replicated by Wolves.

They eventually succumbed to an injury-time equaliser against Brighton in a match they deserved to lose, but that stoicism really does sum up Roy Hodgson's team. It's a trait they share with their next opponent.

As detailed in this week's Premier League: Punting Pointers, 13 of the last 20 top-flight fixtures have involved under 2.5 goals as managers have become more circumspect and defences have belatedly got up to speed.

This has all the hallmarks of being a closely-fought encounter.

Wolves' last three matches have seen under 2.5 goals - they were moments from it being under 1.5 - and it's now happened in 17 of their past 20 outings in all competitions, so it's no surprise to see that priced at 4/7.