Crystal Palace v Cardiff City Preview: Can Palace follow up shock City victory against league strugglers Cardiff

Cardiff City take a festive trip to the capital to the home of Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.

Crystal Palace come into this game on the back of one of their best results of the season, a 3-2 win at the Etihad against Manchester City. This game included one of the goals of the season from winger Andros Townsend.

Cardiff come into the fixture after a 5-1 humbling at home to former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's new look Manchester United side.

Can Palace make it three wins in a row

The Eagles have taken nine points from their last five matches, which is equal to the amount that they achieved in their opening 13 matches, which is showing a real turn in form.

Not only can Palace make it three consecutive league wins in a row, but they can also make it three wins in a row at Selhurst Park. They can also make it three clean sheets in a row at home if they can stop Cardiff from scoring a goal.

Palace also have an excellent record against their opponents, winning three of the last four meetings between the two.

Palace boss Roy Hodgson was coy following his sides victory against Manchester City. This is what he said in his pre-match press conference:

"It's three fantastic points [against Manchester City] but we need to make certain we don't throw them away by not doing the job we need to do against Cardiff on Boxing Day.

"We need to get points from that game as well, otherwise we would have wasted these three bonus points."

When will the away day rot end for Cardiff

Cardiff may have been able to pick up some vital wins at the Cardiff City Stadium but are really struggling to pick up any points on the road this season.

The Bluebirds have only picked up a singular point in the eight games they have played in this season.

They have only won one Premier League in 24 attempts which was against Southampton, way back in April 2014. Cardiff are also winless in their last five games in the league on Boxing Day.

There is one positive though, manager Warnock is unbeaten in his last nine visits to Selhurst Park but all these games were in the Championship.

Warnock is buoyant ahead of the second half of the season. He said this in his pre-match press conference: "If you'd told me we'd be out of the bottom three at Christmas, I'd have snapped your hand off.

"I'm sure Palace and Leicester will be rubbing their hands with glee at playing Cardiff City, but you never know.