AT PALACE ON BOXING DAY

Can Saints build on their win against Everton? Another 3 points would be gratefully received.

The line-up should be interesting.......I wonder whether Tadic will be rested again.

A win in this one would be important, given the impending matches against Arsenal and Chelsea.

I would allow Tadic some more rest, in all honesty didn't miss him against Everton, but might have on bench.  I would play 442 for this one Yoshida and Toby at CH with Fonte suspended, Morgan and Victor back in midfield and leave Long and Pelle up front.  Would give us Targett, Gardos, Reed, Tadic, Mane, Kelvin Hesketh on the bench.

I think we will win this one and am expecting us to give Chelsea and Arsenal a real game now, after Burnley I was not at all confident but the game against Everton proved we do have a plan B. think Plan B for Palace and Arsenal with poss Plan A, start Tadic against Chelsea

Rather a surprising line-up, no place for Wanyama, Reed or Tadic and once again Mane is preferred to Long. In Koeman we trust.......we have to don't we?

23 Forster
02 Clyne
03 Yoshida
05 Gardos
21 Bertrand
08 Davis
17 Alderweireld
04 Schneiderlin
16 Ward-Prowse
19 Pellè
10 Mané

Substitutes

01 Davis
07 Long
11 Tadic
12 Wanyama
28 Reed
32 McCarthy
33 Targett

Well he went with Plan B, as I predicted, and won. I still think he will revert to 4 4 2 against Chelsea. Gardos to be the player that drops out for Wanyama

Good to see Mane look like he had a decent game but for to hit or miss at the moment, would start Long and Pelle against Chelsea

Great to see another 3 points on the board. And Mane looked very good in the TV highlights. I thought it was between Mane and Toby for Man of the Match. A brilliant long-range hook from Toby in the first half so nearly brought a goal.

My armchair ratings....

FORSTER 7
CLYNE 7
GARDOS 6
YOSHIDA 6
TOBY 9
BERTRAND 7
SCHNEIDERLIN 6
DAVIS 6
WARD-PROWSE 7
MANE 8
PELLE 6

SUBS
WANYAMA......didn't see him in action so haven't rated
LONG 7

If Saints go back to 4-4-2 on Sunday I imagine both Gardos and Yoshida will drop out.

With Targett playing LB I would have thought Koeman would look to ensure he had someone in front of him to help, just wonder if he might play Tadic as the creative player but personally I think hard graft is the key to playing Chelsea, at least first half, keep it level to around 60 minutes and see if Mourihino blinks first with subs then bring on Tadic. From what I saw on highlights Davis didn't look great and thought he has not been as good since he has come back from injury, could he start Reed in place of Davis?

Possible team

Forster
Cline
Fonte
Toby
Targett
Schneiderlin
JWP
Wanyama
Davis
Long
Pelle

Subs, Davis, Yoshida, Gardos, Mane, Tadic, Reed, McCarthy