Palace travel to Stamford Bridge tomorrow in the hope we can avoid the sort of tonking we got at Highbury and Old Trafford.
Both of the other two teams in the top three put five past Kiraly when we played them on their own patch – and the Blues are clearly capable of doing the same.
But Palace, despite having to put up with distracting tittle-tattle about Dowie’s future, must be full of confidence following the recent goalless draw with Man United. And with Chelsea misfiring their way to an unconvincing 1-0 home win over West Brom in midweek, perhaps there is a ray of hope there for Dowie’s boys.
Don’t expect too many changes from the Eagles side that lined up against United a fortnight ago – long-term absentees such as Ventola, Black and Butterfield are still spending most of their time in the physio room.
However, Aki is back fit again and could start. Darren Powell is also fit again, but won’t anticipate breaking up the Hall/Sorondo pairing at the back just yet. Lakis is missing as he sits out the game following his soft sending off last time out.
The bad news from the Chelsea camp is that this is the game where Robben is expected to make his comeback after injury. However, with Joe Cole in such blistering form at the moment, we’ll be troubled by whichever of them plays.
Better news is that Didier Drogba – who scored against us in the reverse fixture at the start of the season – is probably out with a groin strain. Ricardo Carvalho is likely to come in for Robert Huth.
Probable Palace XI:
Kiraly
Boyce Hall Sorondo Granville
Routledge Riihilahti Hughes Leigertwood Soares
Johnson