Good afternoon everyone and thank you for joining us as we bring you live coverage of Crystal Palace's clash with visitors Bournemouth at Selhurst Park in the Premier League.

Both of these sides are still searching for their first victory of the new season as the Premier League heads into its third weekend. This fixture also finds each of these clubs in a rather rough patch of domestic form in the English top-flight.

Palace and the Cherries were both able to pick up victories during the EFL Cup in the week, but they will be desperate to register three points in the league today.

The Eagles' form in the league has to be a cause for concern for boss Alan Pardew. As it stands, Palace have won only two of their 21 Premier League games this year, which has seen them earn just 11 points out of a possible 63.

One of the club's major problem areas has been in attack. Palace have not been able to score a first-half goal in their last nine league fixture and have scored only one in their previous 14 matches. Statistics also show that no other club in last year's campaign had a top scorer with fewer goals than that of Palace's. Yannick Bolasie, Yohan Cabaye, Connor Wickham and Scott Dann all notched five each last time out.

That tide could soon change, though, given that the club have shelled out a lot of money to bring in want-away Liverpool striker Christian Benteke. Fans will be hoping that they get the chance to see something of their new record signing this afternoon.

Things haven't been much better for Eddie Howe's Bournemouth, mind... They worked hard before losing out to a solitary goal at West Ham United last weekend. The Cherries have only earned one point from their past seven games. The club have only won once in 10 attempts and that came against a woeful Aston Villa side back in April.

Time for some team news now...

CRYSTAL PALACE STARTING XI: Mandanda; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare; Townsend, McArthur, Cabaye, Puncheon; Benteke, Wickham

CRYSTAL PALACE SUBSTITUTES: Speroni, Tomkins, Kelly, Boateng, Ledley, Lee, Zaha

BOURNEMOUTH STARTING XI: Boruc; Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels; Surman, Arter, Fraser, Ibe; Wilson, King

BOURNEMOUTH SUBSTITUTES: Gosling, Ake, Afobe, Gradel, Smith, Federici, Grabban

So some massive news for you Palace fans, not one but two new debuts for the club this afternoon. The major news is that Pardew has provided Benteke with his first start despite some murmurs suggesting that he is still not quite match fit. The other comes in the shape of new stopper Steve Mandanda who starts in place of an injured Wayne Hennessey. Wilfried Zaha has to settle for a place on the bench, with a midfield four behind Benteke and Connor Wickham made up of Jason Puncheon, Andros Townsend, Johan Cabaye and James McArthur.

As for the visitors, they have decided to name an unchanged team from the one that lost to West Ham United last weekend. Harry Arter features having already served his red-card suspension during the week. The visitors will be led by the attacking presences of Jordan Ibe, Callum Wilson and Josh King.

Look at that the Palace team on paper, Pardew will be very pleasing with how things are looking now. The club's general play this campaign has not been too bad - it's only really broken down in the final third. Benteke could provide so much for this side if he's made the main man. Cabaye's return to fitness following the Euros is only going to help this side too.

Bournemouth did well away against the Hammers last Sunday and there is not much else Howe can do in terms of choosing a side to field. One might argue for the inclusion of Benik Afobe in attack, but the visitors have full faith in the likes of King, Ibe and Wilson delivering. Surely Bournemouth's only aim this season is to ensure survival.

One cause for concern for the Cherries has arguably been at the back. They've always been a team willing to play with an enterprising mindset, but they must recognise that going 12 league matches without a clean sheet, conceding a joint-league high 27 goals during that period, is something that needs addressing.

Palace do not have the best of records against Bournemouth. In fact, they're a little bit of a bogey side for the Eagles. Palace are without a victory in four meetings ever since a 3-0 home win as part of the historic Second Division way back in 1988.

We are expecting a dry and sunny afternoon down in south London today as we await what should be a contest full of intrigue:

Palace are out to warm up! #CRYBOU 🔴🔵 https://t.co/2ybV9vYZcZ

— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) August 27, 2016

The last time these sides met, Bournemouth were able to secure a vital 2-1 victory over Palace at Selhurst to help secure their Premier League status. Marc Pugh and Afobe provided the goals on that afternoon back in February.

Pardew has already expressed his delight at finally being able to field Benteke in a side of his choosing. Here's what he had to say via the Palace Twitter feed a little earlier:

PARDEW: It's the line-up we've been trying to work towards with 2 strikers on the pitch, a new look with the goalkeeper and Benteke up top. — Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) August 27, 2016

The Palace boss has made three changes today. Zaha's omission to the bench has made way for Benteke, while Joe Ledley has also missed out in place of McArthur. That change in the middle could be a move to add a little more dynamism in the middle and it might just mean that Palace can get the ball back to front a little quicker. Mandanda has always been a solid performer and he will be aiming to help lay some solid foundations in the home goal.

The Palace faithful will be hoping that Benteke can produce repeats from his debuts at former clubs. The striker scored on his home Premier League debut for both Aston Villa and Liverpool.

Pardew has suggested that this could be the time in which his side really needs to kick on after failing to register a win so far. Here's what he has said ahead of today's game, according to the official Premier League website: "We're much better in terms of the players we've got available. The fitness levels are up. It's an important game for both clubs - we don't want to be rooted to the bottom of the table after three games."

Howe has also insisted that his side must start improving in terms of results. Here's his opinion as per the club's Twitter account: "We know we can do better than we did at West Ham. The challenge today is for the same group of players to do better. I like the team. I think it's got a good blend and hopefully that will show today with a positive result. We want our season to start today. We need points, we don't want to be playing catch up in this league. Today's the day."

PREDICTION! We've got just under 15 minutes to go until kickoff and it is time for me to make a prediction. Palace have really struggled in the final third with Wickham being asked to do too much alone. The addition of Benteke could really change the club's fortunes in attack. Cabaye gaining more match minutes can only be a positive too. This side is now looking like one that can cause teams some serious problems and I'm backing Palace for a 2-1 victory on home turf today.

Bournemouth will be hoping to improve on some split fortunes when visiting London in the league today. The Cherries have won three of their six away trips to the capital in the Premier League, losing the other three.

Perhaps the significance of these sides' goal-scoring fortunes has already been indicted early on this season. Between the combined four games played by the two clubs, they have scored just the one goal between them when Bournemouth registered in their 3-1 defeat to Manchester United on the opening weekend. Palace are yet to score a Premier League goal this term.

You have to wander what will happen to Zaha during this window. He's made clear that he wants to leave in light of that opening offer from Tottenham Hotspur. Has Pardew benched his winger for tactical terms, or for more personal ones?

The players are now in the tunnel as we await their entry onto the pitch. Palace are to feature in their home red and blue strip, while Bournemouth are in neon green. Yep, neon green... Or is it yellow?

So the players arrive to rapturous applause from both sets of fans inside Selhurst Park. We'll be pausing for the Premier League tune, some noble shaking of hands and then we'll finally be off!

KICKOFF! Bournemouth get us moving from right to left. The visitors move things back to the defence where Benteke clatters in to try and win the ball before giving away a free kick to the Cherries.

Bournemouth are knocking things around nicely early on as Fraser links up well with Daniels where it is worked into the middle for Wilson. The frontman thinks that he has the better of Dann, but he ends up fouling his marker.

The away side are doing all the work. This time Daniels threads a wonderful ball for the run of Fraser in behind, but the youngster's cross is cut out for a corner at the crucial moment. Palace stand firm for the set-piece and are able to clear their lines with relative ease.

Delaney gives away a careless foul about 35 yards out from goal, leaving Surman to curl delivery into the box. His delivery goes towards the back-post for Fraser, leaving Dann to get up in time to head away.

Palace are setup for the counter at the moment given all of this away possession. Townsend almost steals in on the break, although Ward has other plans as he cuts out his run with a huge boot into the stands.

The Eagles thread some nice passes together out from the back to release Ward down the right, where the ball is then worked into Wickham down in the corner. The frontman can't quite hold things up and Cook can intervene. The visitors break with some pace down the left and King is able to win a corner, which is eventually cleared by the home side with Wilson lurking.

We have an opener and Bournemouth probably deserve it. Another mistimed Delaney challenge provides Surman with another chance to whip in a free kick, which is cleared only to Arter. The playmaker is able to pick out a wonderful through-ball to find King on the right side of the box. The youngster finds himself in acres of space and can lash a good finish beyond Mandanda down low. The visitors are in front!

Can Palace respond? Bournemouth can forward again after the kick and they are able to win a corner. Mandanda flaps and the ball almost drops for Arter, but Cook swings a boot to clear.

Very odd! Cabaye swings a ball into the area where referee Mike Dean decides to give a penalty to Palace following a very slight push on Benteke from Daniels. Cabaye steps up to try and put Palace level, but Boruc guesses correctly and is able to push away the midfielder's effort down to his right.

CLOSE! The visitors are swarming now as King breaks forward into space at pace. The defenders part like the waves and the forward drills an effort towards goal. Thankfully for Palace, it takes a wild deflection and loops away for a corner.

Delaney again with a needless challenge on Wilson and Bournemouth earn themselves a free kick right on the edge of the Palace area. Surman stands over it before curling the ball high and wide of the home goal. Bit of a waste really...

Wilson is giving Delaney one hell of a test with his pace at the moment. This time the forward breaks in behind and is followed by the Palace full-back, who does really well to thwart the run of the rapid forward.

The home side are able to put some pressure on the visitors with a corner. The ball is swung in towards a heavily-congested box. Despite the presence of Dann and Benteke, Cook keeps his cool to relieve the pressure on his side with a tidy clearance. Bournemouth are very good value for this lead at the minute.

McArthur and Cabaye have arguably been pretty anonymous in this contest. Palace are being dominated in the middle and that's doing wonders for Bournemouth's forward movement. Wilson almost finds himself in behind following a ball from Daniels, but the referee raises his flag for an offside.

Wonderful work from Benteke! The big forward does really well to hold the ball up on the edge of the area before being mowed down by a retreating King. Townsend is the one hovering over the ball and he produces a poor effort that goes straight into the wall. What a waste...

SAVE! Tremendous stuff from Borus now. Townsend wriggles into space on the right flank and pops in a cross towards Benteke. The ball goes a bit off-piste and seems like it's headed for the far corner. Thankfully for Bournemouth their stopper rises to clear the ball away.

Wickham gives away a foul just inside the Palace half, and the visitors go long with a ball into the area. King rises for a flick-on, but nobody decides to make the run and the ball comes through kindly for Mandanda.

Arter has been quietly impressive from the middle for Bournemouth. This time he adjusts his feet quickly in order to try a ball in behind for Fraser, who gets caught a little on his heels and Mandanda comes out to claim.

More smart work comes through King with a great knock-down for Wilson. The frontman plays a one-two with Ibe before delivering a pretty woeful ball into the area that goes high and wide of any lingering targets.

Wickham comes deeper this time to gather the ball on the left flank. The striker has time to pick out a cross into the middle, but what he delivers is wasteful and the Palace fans let him know it. Frustration is growing here.

SAVE! King and Wilson combine to leave Dann in all sorts of trouble. Wilson finds himself free of the defence with only Mandanda to beat, only for the stopper to pull off a great save at the feet of the Bournemouth striker to keep his side in the game.

What can Pardew do here? He's shifted his formation a little but Bournemouth are causing all kinds of problems with their forward running... This time Souare is the saviour as he gets back just in time to prevent the march of Wilson down the right channel.

CLOSE! When will Palace learn their lessons? Another silly free kick is given away by Souare in a dangerous position on the right, allowing for Ibe to deliver into the danger area. The winger decides to go for the shot but comes up short as his effort just evades the top-right corner of goal.

Benteke has done very well with the little service that he has been provided with. He did well to win the penalty and his hold-up play has been promising. It's just a shame that he is not getting the required help from his teammates in advanced areas.

YELLOW CARD! Finally Delaney goes into the book as he produces a rash challenge following the run of Ibe. Palace have a great chance from just short of the area now... Two added minutes at Selhurst.

Ibe's effort from the set-piece is a poor one as he finds the wall with his shot. How many times will Palace give away petulant free kicks without being punished?

Boos ring out around Selhurst Park as the referee blows for half time in London. Palace just have not been at the races this afternoon, whereas Bournemouth have been at the front of the queue for everything in this first period. The visitors' forward running has been the standout mark of their game and King took full advantage of his opportunity to put his side in the ascendency. Palace have much work to do if they want to have a chance of saving this game...

Howe will be delighted with his charges so far. They have been all over the pitch and their forward movement has simply been a joy to watch. King and Wilson are combining brilliantly in the final third. The visitors might, however, be a touch frustrated that they have put themselves into a more commanding position at the break. With Benteke on the pitch, one goal might not be enough to win this match.

As for Palace, they can only get better surely? The hosts' midfield has been virtually non-existent thus far... McArthur and Cabaye need to start getting a foot on the ball in order to control the pace of this game. At the moment Bournemouth are breaking through the middle at will and Palace are being caught on the back-foot far too often.

Benteke must be frustrated. The forward has shown glimpses of brilliance when holding up the ball, but he is really suffering from a lack of interaction and movement around him. Pardew needs to do something and fast.

KICKOFF! Palace get the second half started. That's 10 games now in which the Eagles have failed to score a first-half goal...

Palace start brighter than in the first period and they make progress down the right. Ward has the chance to deliver but his cross into the box is a poor one.

Benteke aims to break in behind the defence on the turn in order to receive Cabaye's lofted pass. Cook reads the game perfectly and steps up in time to see the forward flagged for offside.

Some neat feet sees the space open up for Townsend on the right channel, although his cross towards the near post is hoofed away by Daniels.

SHOT! Bournemouth switch off for a second and the room comes available for McArthur. The midfielder eats up the space before firing towards goal, where his shot is blocked on the deck by Cook.

OFF THE LINE! Palace swing in a corner that allows Dann to rise highest inside the area. It looks like his header is destined for the net, only for Arter to clear the ball off the line. The replay shows that it might actually have come back straight off the post.

The crowd are now responding to this upturn from Palace and the fans are in full song. Ward has another chance to put a ball into the middle, but he is stopped by the boot of Surman.

CHANCE! Townsend gets motoring this time down the right wing before being denied by Daniels, who gets back to concede a corner. Cabaye's delivery falls kindly to Wickham, who cannot keep his shot on the turn down as the ball goes ballooning over the crossbar.

What have Palace got here... Souare picks out the most accurate of cross-field passes to find Townsend at the back-post, but he is unable to find the right kind of flick as Cook comes across to cover the Bournemouth lines.

SUBSTITUTION: Dan Gosling comes on to replace Ibe as Bournemouth make their first change of the game. It appears that the visitors want a bit more protection down the flanks.

Puncheon has been the man making the difference for Palace in the second half. This time he finds some space on the left and cuts a ball into the middle that is sent back out again to Souare. The full-back picks out a delightful swinging delivery for McArthur, who is unable to guide his header at the near post towards the target. Palace are back in the contest but still need that vital goal.

More good movement from Souare allows the full-back to get in behind after leaving King behind. The defender goes for a driven cross and Bournemouth clear for a corner. The play in is greeted by Benteke, who heads tamely over the bar despite being in the dominant position. He should be hitting the target from there.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Two changes from Palace as Zaha replaces Wickham and Lee Chung-yong takes the place of McArthur in the middle. Positive changes, that's for sure!

Townsend breaks into some space on the edge of the box and he attempts something from range that comes through a number of bodies before being well taken by Boruc in the away goal. All Palace at the moment...

CLOSE! Zaha makes an instant impact with clever footwork before feeding Lee on the right. The sub swings a delivery to the back-post for Souare, who sees his header saved by Boruc. The corner almost sees Zaha scramble the ball over the line, but Bournemouth scrape things clear through Cook's boot after a hectic melee in the penalty box.

SUBSTITUTION: Lewis Grabban comes on to replace Wilson for the visitors. Bournemouth looking to close-up shop? Grabban now comes on to face his former club.

So we have around 20 minutes still to play here at Selhurst, can Palace salvage something from this game? The hosts have been much-improved after the break but they still find themselves behind in the contest.

CLOSE! Was that the chance? Townsend shows some brilliant skill to skip through a number of bodies in the area before playing in Zaha in behind on the right side of the box. The winger is able to cut the ball into the path of Lee, who skews his effort over the bar without testing Boruc. Will they come to rue that miss?

Lee aims to make up for the miss over on the right wing as he jinks inside to win a free kick in a dangerous position off Gosling. The delivery comes into the area with some pace, where Cook heads away before Benteke can reach it.

Clever stuff from Smith who buys a much-needed free kick for his side just inside his own half. This should provide a bit of breathing room for the visitors who have been under the cosh for much of this half. Can the weather the storm for the remaining 10 minutes?

CHANCE! Benteke things he has done enough to win another penalty following a stern challenge from Smith. The ball runs free to Townsend on the left side the box, but he can only crash his effort into the side-netting as Bournemouth survive yet again...

CLOSE! Bournemouth should kill the game off as Smith gets in behind the Palace backline, but Fraser is unable to finish his cutback as the ball is bundled just wide.

CHANCE! Palace are really piling the pressure on now as Lee Chung-yong finds room just 10 yards out from goal. Boruc gets the better of him though with a wonderful and potentially match-winning save!

Can Palace spring something late here? Bournemouth look solid in these closing moments but you feel that there could be just one more chance in this...

Four added minutes at Selhurst Park!

GOAL! CRYSTAL PALACE 1-1 BOURNEMOUTH (SCOTT DANN)

Scenes... Puncheon picks out a wonderful ball having been given space on the left side of the pitch and he picks out a perfect ball for Dann in the middle, who rises highest to send a bullet of a header beyond a stranded Boruc.

What a finish! Palace were so much better in the second half it makes you wonder what Pardew must have said. They bossed the second period and were fully deserving of that point. There were times in that second half when it looked as though Bournemouth might just see out the three points. Credit to the Eagles, though. They never gave up and played right up until the death. Puncheon was inspired in the second half and really turned the outcome of the match. Huge credit to Dann too, that was some header in the final moments of the game. That's going to be all from me today, thanks for joining us!