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Crystal Palace-Chelsea Preview

It could be a coronation at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, where Chelsea will try to give Jose Mourinho his third Premier League title with a victory over Crystal Palace.

The inexorable march by the Blues (24-8-2) is nearing its end as Chelsea enter this match with a 13-point lead over Manchester City and Arsenal with four matches remaining. Though the Gunners have a match in hand, Chelsea can render that moot with a victory over the Eagles.

Mourinho's team put themselves in position to clinch the title with a 3-1 victory at Leicester City on Wednesday. Didier Drogba canceled out an early Foxes goal, before John Terry and Ramires scored four minutes apart late in the second half as Chelsea increased their unbeaten streak to 14 matches (10-4-0) in league play.

"We knew they were going to be a tough side and they were," said Terry, who is now tied with David Unsworth as the highest-scoring defender in Premier League history with 38 goals. "We got a bit of a telling off at halftime and we came out and responded very well. I thought we played excellently in the second half, created a lot more chances ... we got the three points again and a very good result."

For Mourinho, it will be his first title in his second go-round with Chelsea after winning back-to-back campaigns in 2005 and 2006. One could sense the pressure finally melt away post-match as he gave the plaudits to his players for what has been a season-long exercise in consistency and success.

''I think it is phenomenal what they are doing,'' said Mourinho, who has batted away suggestions in recent days that his team is boring and is on the verge of completing a double having already won the League Cup. ''Top of the league since day one - it's not easy.''

Drogba's proficiency - he's scored seven times in 12 starts - has lessened the blow of the injury to Diego Costa, who remains unlikely to feature due to a hamstring injury suffered April 4. Both Costa and Loic Remy (calf) have trained this week, but Chelsea's defence - which have turned in a league-best 16 clean sheets - have also helped lessen the burden on the offence.

Crystal Palace (11-9-14) are safely in the top flight for next season on 42 points, but Alan Pardew is trying to right his side after back-to-back 2-0 home defeats. The most recent one came last Sunday against Hull City, leaving goalkeeper Julian Speroni frustrated by his team losing their form.

"It's a really disappointing result and everyone is gutted with it," Speroni said, before turning his attention to this weekend. "It's not going to be easy, it's against a fantastic Chelsea team, but we need to make sure we put in a good performance."

Palace have been a difficult team to break down on the road, winning five of their last six while scoring 13 goals in that span. The Eagles had netted just 10 in their first 11 road matches while going 1-6-4.

Chelsea won the reverse fixture 2-1 at Selhurst Park as goals by Oscar and Cesc Fabregas provided a two-goal margin before a late consolation marker by Fraizer Campbell for the 10-man Eagles. The Blues have won eight of the 11 Premier League meetings between the teams, with Crystal Palace's lone win coming March 29, 2014.

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