Crystal Palace vs Chelsea: Premier League match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at Selhurst Park

Jose Mourinho gestures on the sideline (Getty Images)

Chelsea will play their fourth London derby of the month of March when they head to Selhurst Park to face Tony Pulis’ Crystal Palace. The Blues remain unbeaten in London this month, and head into the fixture hoping to heap more misery on the struggling Eagles and cement their place afoot the Premier League table.

Jose Mourinho’s ”little horses” enter the fixture leading the three horse race with Liverpool and Manchester City for the Premier League crown and have been handed the perfect opportunity to extend their lead at Selhurst Park. Liverpool host Tottenham and Manchester City head to Arsenal this weekend.

Crystal Palace head into the fixture in 17 place, just three points clear of the relegation zone and have gone an unpleasant 513 minutes without finding the net from open play. With the Eagles facing the league’s best defence and strongest goalkeeper in Petr Cech, they certainly face a stern test to overcome their goalscoring demons.

Palace’s top goal scorer, Marouane Chamakh remains a doubt for the clash, which could see either Glenn Murray or Cameron Jerome take on the goal scoring responsibilities. And for the Blues, Samuel Eto’o looks set to miss out after a hamstring strain saw him withdraw early from the 6-0 thrashing of Arsenal last weekend.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Chelsea 2 (Torres, Ramires) Crystal Palace 1 (Chamakh), Premier League, December 2013

Chelsea 4 (Lampard, J.Cole, Kezman 2) Crystal Palace 1 (Riihilahiti), Premiership, March 2005

Crystal Palace 0 Chelsea 2 (Drogba, Tiago), Premiership, August 2004

STATS…

Crystal Palace have not beaten the Blues in the league for 23 years and have not won at Stamford Bridge for 32 years.

Chelsea’s Eden Hazard has scored more goals this season than the entire Crystal Palace team has managed at Selhurst Park.

Chelsea are unbeaten in London this season (W16, D4, L0)

ODDS…

Crystal Palace to win: 10

Chelsea to win: 1.43

Draw: 4.8

TV: Highlights on BBC 1 at 10.30pm