Post by staggerstag on Mar 10, 2018 17:21:26 GMT
Zaha back for Palace and Giroud starts up front ahead of Morata. It's five points between CFC and Spurs but it could be two after this. But then again Palace have won on their previous two EPL visits here, so it could still be a five point North/South divide after this.
CFC: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill (c); Zappacosta, Kante, Fabregas, Alonso; Willian, Giroud, Hazard.
Subs: Caballero, Ampadu, Bakayoko, Emerson, Moses, Pedro, Morata.
CPFC: Hennessey; Wann-Bissaka, Tomkins, Kelly, Van Aanholt; McArthur, Milivojević, Schlupp; Benteke, Sorloth
Subs: Cavalieri, Sakho, Souare, Fosu-Mensah, Riedewald, Lee, Zaha
CFC 3/10
CPFC 11/1
Draw 5/1
Preamble by Simon Burnton :
CFC: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill (c); Zappacosta, Kante, Fabregas, Alonso; Willian, Giroud, Hazard.
Subs: Caballero, Ampadu, Bakayoko, Emerson, Moses, Pedro, Morata.
CPFC: Hennessey; Wann-Bissaka, Tomkins, Kelly, Van Aanholt; McArthur, Milivojević, Schlupp; Benteke, Sorloth
Subs: Cavalieri, Sakho, Souare, Fosu-Mensah, Riedewald, Lee, Zaha
CFC 3/10
CPFC 11/1
Draw 5/1
Preamble by Simon Burnton :
On 12 December Crystal Palace came back from a goal down with a minute to play to beat Watford 2-1 at Selhurst Park and vaulted to the dizzy heights of 17th in the Premier League table. It was the first time all season, going back to the miserable home thumping by Huddersfield on the opening day, that they had not been in the relegation places, and they were in no hurry to go back. Another win, 3-0 at Leicester, in their following game and they were suddenly 14th. They continued to hover above the drop zone for very nearly three months, until last Monday night, when shortly after half-time against Manchester United they found themselves 2-0 up and 13th; by the final whistle they were 2-3 down and 18th, back in the bottom three.
The good news for them is that Wilfried Zaha could be back today, though he faces a late fitness test on his recently injured knee (Palace in 20 games with Zaha in the team: 27 points; Palace in nine games without Zaha in the team: 0 points). And that they know this task is not impossible, having beaten Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in both of the last two seasons. And that Antonio Conte thinks they’re great: “We’re playing against a really good team, with talented players.” And that Chelsea might be distracted by the prospect of a midweek trip to Barcelona. And that, whatever the result today, their remaining fixtures give them a very decent chance of escaping their current predicament.
The bad news for them is that Chelsea’s recent results have been inconsistent. This, Roy Hodgson explained, makes them so much more threatening than if they were actually playing well: “Normally when you come against a team not having the best of times, that can be a very dangerous time to play them,” he averred.
The good news for them is that Wilfried Zaha could be back today, though he faces a late fitness test on his recently injured knee (Palace in 20 games with Zaha in the team: 27 points; Palace in nine games without Zaha in the team: 0 points). And that they know this task is not impossible, having beaten Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in both of the last two seasons. And that Antonio Conte thinks they’re great: “We’re playing against a really good team, with talented players.” And that Chelsea might be distracted by the prospect of a midweek trip to Barcelona. And that, whatever the result today, their remaining fixtures give them a very decent chance of escaping their current predicament.
The bad news for them is that Chelsea’s recent results have been inconsistent. This, Roy Hodgson explained, makes them so much more threatening than if they were actually playing well: “Normally when you come against a team not having the best of times, that can be a very dangerous time to play them,” he averred.
Giroud just can't pot for jack. Hazard worked hard on '67 to feed Alonso who delivered a good ball across for the waiting Giroud. He had the goal at his mercy from 12 yards out...and struck the left post instead. One of the misses of the season.