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Crystal Palace have been plunged into another ­potential spy storm, with evidence that Aston Villa’s team was known to them before the

Villa chiefs were stunned to hear that a visitor to the Palace dressing room photographed an information sheet, showing the correct Villa line-up – which included four changes and a totally revamped playing ­formation – two-and-a-half hours before kick-off.

The sheets, positioned beneath the pegs of each Palace player, included detailed scouting reports on each Villa player, showing that the visitors would change from their usual 4-4-1-1 ­formation to a 3-5-2 system.

It also correctly predicted that Ciaran Clark, Fabian Delph, Gabby Agbonlahor and Karim El Ahmadi would replace Joe Bennett, Leandro Bacuna, Marc Albrighton and Andreas Weimann.

, lifting them clear of the ­relegation battle and keeping Aston Villa in danger of the drop.

Palace had already been reported to the Premier League by Cardiff, over the alleged leaking of the Bluebirds’ team to Eagles sporting director Iain Moody, before Tony Pulis’ men beat the Welsh club 3-0, the week before the Villa game, on April 5. Cardiff are demanding that the result of that match should be scrapped and the fixture replayed.

Palace boss Pulis will meet Premier League officials to discuss the matter on Tuesday, with Cardiff claiming League rules were broken.

Pulis strenuously denies the ­allegations.

Yet, Sunday Mirror Sport can reveal the astonishing lack of security, which allowed around 40 match-day sponsors and their guests to view the Villa team dossiers, while they were given ­pre-match tours of Selhurst Park.

Our source was able to take a snap (above) of the scouting reports on Villa’s players, set out in their new 3-5-2 formation, at 12.28pm. The official team sheet would have been handed in – more than 90 minutes later – at 2pm.

The detailed nature of the team news suggests Palace were likely to have been aware of it before match day.

The team line-up showed that Villa would make the significant change of playing with three central defenders and wing-backs, rather than their usual flat back four, as well as four changes in personnel from the previous week’s home defeat by Fulham.

Palace were happy to allow visitors to take photos in the dressing room, with our insider noticing the team information, which had a full breakdown of the Villa team. Our source said: “The sheets were not hidden in any way and there seemed to be no problem reading them or even photographing them. I was gobsmacked when I saw what had been written about each player.

“The most amazing thing, though, was the fact that the formation and team line-up was spot on, which I thought was very strange, considering Villa ­subsequently made four changes from the previous week, and played 3-5-2 rather than 4-4-1-1.

“Not many expected Weimann and Albrighton to be on the bench, and Lowton to play at right wing-back, but Villa lined up exactly as we had seen it on the paper in the dressing room.

“It just seemed incredible to me that we had been in the dressing room and had seen the exact Villa line-up two-and-a-half hours before the game started.”

The scout, who compiled Pulis’ report, included several damning assessments of Villa players. We’ve summarised them in our graphic above.

A Villa spokesman said: “The matter has been brought to the attention of the club. We have no further comment.”

(Image: Christopher Lee)

Villa insist that their first team train in a secluded area of the club’s Bodymoor Heath training ground, in a rural area near The Belfry golf course, outside Birmingham. It is also believed they are happy with security around the facility.

They say it would be virtually ­impossible for a spy to get on to the premises to scout on manager Paul Lambert’s preparations for a vital ­relegation showdown.

So, there is mystery surrounding how Palace so accurately set out the Villa line-up, with the Midlands club concerned about possible leaks.

Villa boss Paul Lambert has suffered a tumultuous week, on the back of four straight defeats, with his long-term assistant

. Those suspensions were linked to allegations of bullying, not the alleged leak.

There is also no direct link between Palace seemingly knowing the Villa side in advance and those allegations made by Cardiff against the south London club.

But Cardiff have accused Palace of breaking Premier League rules B15, B16 and B17 – with B17 potentially the most serious, as it states that no club shall disclose or divulge ­confidential ­information. Cardiff claim Palace’s actions were “an attempt to obtain a sporting ­advantage”.

The Premier League have confirmed they are investigating Cardiff’s complaint, but it is uncertain what punishment could be meted out if they are found to have broken any League rules.

We offered Crystal Palace the chance to respond. They declined to comment.