CHELSEA v CRYSTAL PALACE
Saturday 10th March 2018 – Kickoff: 1730hrs
Football – England – Premier League Betting Tips
Fifth placed Chelsea have it all to do now if they’re to grab a top four finish in the Premier League following Sunday night’s abject display at Manchester City where they lost 1-0, with manager Antonio Conte virtually conceding defeat before a ball was even kicked!
Conte came under fire after deploying what was perceived as defensive ‘park the bus’ tactics which seemed strange coming from a team that currently holds the Premier League title, and having lost four of their last five league matches, Chelsea now find themselves playing catch-up to Tottenham who hold a valuable five point cushion over them.
Saturday evening’s clash with fellow London rivals, Crystal Palace, gives The Blues another chance of redeeming themselves at Stamford Bridge, and failure to win this evening may signal the end of Conte’s previously successful reign at the club. This has now become a must-win game for Chelsea, and with a fairly decent home record of 9-2-3 24/10 behind them, they should grab the points here.
They say that one player doesn’t make a team, and that would be right in around 95% of the time, but Wilfred Saha’s injury has had a devastating effect on Crystal Palace who have lost their last three league matches on the trot following Saha’s absence.
It’s no coincidence that Palace have suffered defeats at the hands of Everton, Tottenham and Manchester United while Saha has been out with a knee injury, and these recent losses have once again plunged Crystal Palace back into the relegation mire, as The Eagles sit third from bottom.
Palace have picked their game up on the road in recent times as they’ve lost just twice in their last eight matches on their travels, but without the attacking outlet that Saha gives manager, Roy Hodgson, they’re missing that vital ‘x-factor’ quality that the attacking winger provides.
Chelsea to win, and to win well.
Pick: Chelsea AH-1.25 @ 1.69 Bet Victor
