Chelsea V Crystal Palace
3rd May, 2015
Chelsea can clinch the Premier League title with victory at Stamford Bridge this Sunday, against a team who’s record away from home is something to be admired. Palace have scored 22 goals away from Selhurst Park, and it’s helped lift them to 12th in the league, well away from the worry of an end of season relegation battle.
Last season it was Crystal Palace that scuppered our title hopes with a deserved 1-0 win, and then did the same to Liverpool coming from 3-0 down to level in the last nine minutes in one of the best ever Premier League games. Beating Palace is never a walk in the park.
However, Chelsea are still the only team in England (92 teams) to remain unbeaten at home, and Palace’s record at Stamford Bridge won’t make happy reading for Palace fans – without a win in over 33 years.
Palace’s Away Brigade
Crystal Palace have no doubt been buoyed by Alan Pardew’s arrival, that much is well documented. And not only has their all round game been impressive, their away form has been nothing short of spectacular.
Did you know that Palace have scored more goals away from home than both Man United and Liverpool. Indeed, only 4 teams (Chelsea, Spurs, Man City & Arsenal) have scored more than them away from their respective home grounds.
And the main contributors of those goals, however predictable, have been their 3 key front men in recent weeks: Murray, Bolasie and Puncheon.
The trio have formed a formidable partnership contributing a combined 10 goals and 10 assists between them over the course of the season, the majority of which have come since Christmas giving Palace a potent goal threat.
As impressive as their away record is, I expect us to beat Palace tomorrow. The mental side of the game can never be measured or underestimated, and the way they’ve approached their last two games has been one of ‘being on holiday’. Whether tiredness is a factor too is a matter for debate but Palace don’t seem to be at the races and Chelsea with the bit between their teeth should be too much for them.
How Will Chelsea Line-Up
With Chelsea using just 22 players in the league this season, the starting line up should be fairly straightforward to predict. Our lead striker choice is still up for debate, but we feel Loic Remy will get the nod after Didier played the full 90 at Leicester on Wednesday night. Didier Drogba – now only one goal away from Peter Osgood’s 105 will be hoping to get a chance.
Thibaut Courtois
Cesar Azpilicueta
John Terry
Gary Cahill
Branislav Ivanovic
Nemanja Matic
Cesc Fabregas
Eden Hazard
Willian
Oscar
Loic Remy
Score Prediction: 2-0 (Remy, Ivanovic)
