IT IS

a fact that Crystal Palace do not win without Wilfried Zaha — but don’t underestimate the importance of Mamadou Sakho. Palace had not kept a clean sheet in seven games before Saturday’s trip to Huddersfield, but with Sakho back fit they claimed a vital 2-0 win. When the centre back has started, Palace have lost just four of their 12 games — and three of those were against Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham. The returns of Sakho and Zaha give Palace a chance of beating the drop.