Saturday's FA Cup final assist, cards and shot predictions: Lacroix could be an unsung hero

Where to watch

Crystal Palace vs Manchester City
BBC One & ITV1, 4.30pm Saturday

Best bets

Under 3.5 cards
2pts 6-5 Betfair, Paddy Power

Eberechi Eze to score or assist
2pts 15-8 bet365

Maxence Lacroix to have a shot
2pts 11-10 Coral, Ladbrokes

Maxence Lacroix to be Player of the Match
0.5pt 50-1 bet365

FA Cup final card and player tips

Recent games between Manchester City and Crystal Palace have had a tendency to be action-packed but one aspect that may be lacking from this FA Cup final is cards.

Stuart Attwell is in charge of this huge occasion for the first time and his cards per game ratio of 4.05 ranks 14th of 17 among referees who have officiated more than ten games in the Premier League this season.

Recent FA Cup finals have been approached cautiously by arbiters. The last four have produced just ten cards in total, and under 3.5 cards is the selection for this year’s Wembley showpiece.

If Palace are to have success, then Eberechi Eze is likely to be integral.

Eze has 13 goals and 11 assists in all competitions and his deliveries have been crucial to Palace’s set-piece success - no team in the top flight has scored more set-piece goals than Palace's total of 16. Eze has been in fine form recently, with five goals in his last four games, and is a tempting price to score or assist.

Another key player in Palace’s set-up is Maxence Lacroix, who netted against City earlier this season. 

The Frenchman has had 30 shots in the Premier League, averaging 0.92 per game, and looks overpriced for an effort at goal.

The player of the match awards in domestic cup finals have been dominated by defenders and midfielders recently. Three centre-backs and four central midfielders have won the last eight awards.

As a result there are worse 50-1 chances than Lacroix, who has been excellent since signing for the Eagles this season. 

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Read more:

FA Cup final predictions, expert betting tips and latest odds for Crystal Palace vs Man City: Wembley shock on the cards 

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