Crystal Palace v Chelsea - e-Chelsea Preview

Article by e-Chelsea Correspondent Robert Wake

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FA PREMIER LEAGUE – SELHURST PARK

SATURDAY 29TH MARCH 2014, KICK-OFF 15:00HRS (GMT)

Summary

Chelsea travel across London to take on Crystal Palace in their 10th and final London derby of the season. The Blues are unbeaten in local encounters this season, and will be confident of a victory at Selhurst Park following their 6-0 destruction of Arsenal. Following a productive January, The Eagles form has tailed-off recently, and they go in to this game without a win in five, and without a goal in their last three outings. The visitors may have one eye on a midweek trip to Paris, but will be hoping for a better return than their recent ill-fated trip to Villa Park. Today’s Referee is Lee Mason.

History

Chelsea won a closely contested match at Stamford Bridge in December with goals from Fernando Torres and Ramires either side of a Marouane Chamakh strike for Palace. That victory extended Chelsea’s unbeaten league run over Palace to 12 games since The Eagles recorded a 2-1 win at Selhurst Park in August 1990. The teams have not met at Selhurst Park since Chelsea recorded a 2-0 victory in August 2004 in one of Mourinho’s early matches in charge during his first spell, with Didier Drogba and Tiago on target. The two teams have met 43 times in all competitions with Chelsea registering 20 wins to Palace’s 8 with 15 draws.

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Team News

Chelsea welcome back Willian from suspension, but he may struggle to regain his place in the starting line-up in light of Andre Schurrle’s impressive performance against Arsenal. Ramires serves the second game of his 3-match ban, and Samuel Eto’o is unavailable with a hamstring strain, so Torres is likely to lead the line in his absence. The Eagles line-up is likely to show a few changes from the team that played at Stamford Bridge, with new signings Scott Dann and Thomas Ince in contention, while Glenn Murray is available after a long-term injury.

Prediction

Both teams are in need of the points for different reasons, and Eagles manager Tony Pulis is certain to have his team well organised and competitive. Palace have suffered from a lack of goals lately, and they may well struggle to breach Chelsea’s excellent defence. The Blues greater quality should tell as the game unfolds, and I expect them to run out fairly comfortable winners.

Crystal Palace 0-2 Chelsea

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