Chelsea 2 - Crystal Palace 1: Petr Cech to hit new heights

CHELSEA might not look like potential champions yet but they are trying their best to sound like them.

CECH MATE: Petr Cech believes Chelsea are primed to move into top gear [GETTY]

Jose Mourinho's side stayed second in the table and gained ground on leaders Arsenal after their latest unconvincing display.
It was their response to Manchester City's 6-3 statement of intent against the Gunners earlier in the day - but it was hardly one to leave their rivals quaking in their boots.

Yet Mourinho confidently claimed his side are setting the standard freescoring title favourites City should be trying to follow, just a day after admitting they might finish the season empty handed.
And Petr Cech spoke like the leaguewinning veteran he is, insisting Chelsea are right where they need to be at this stage in the title race.

Mourinho said: "Manchester City are one point behind us, so they need to be more like us. They're scoring goals, but they have one point less."

Based on the table, 'The Special One' is right. But on the evidence on the pitch, even someone watching through blue-tinted spectacles from the club shop might struggle to agree.
At Stamford Bridge on Saturday they were second best in every department against third-from-bottom Palace.

But thanks to their biggest strength this season - an ability to win games when far from their best - they will head to Arsenal in a week's time knowing they will be top at Christmas if they win.

GETTING BY: The Blues will be hoping for more consistency from Fernando Torres and his fellow strikers [AP]

“We are in the position we wanted to be going into the head-to-head game”

Petr Cech

Three-time title winner Cech said: "We are in the position we wanted to be going into the head-to-head game.
"The game against Arsenal will be a brilliant opportunity to go top. And we know that we haven't reached our peak.

"We still have room for improvement and it is encouraging because if you really start hitting the peak, then we will have even more chances to win games."
Chelsea will also make life much easier for themselves if they find a cure for their jitters.
Goals from Fernando Torres and Ramires either side of revitalised Marouane Chamakh's third goal in three games put them 2-1 up against Palace.

But their failure to score a third left them hanging on until the final whistle as Palace dominated after the break.
Mourinho added: "We play well. What happens is we don't kill opponents.
"And when you don't kill opponents playing well, you put yourself into trouble and you panic a little bit.

"And because you shake, you make mistakes. The way to kill opponents is to score goals.
"The opponent doesn't have a go at you in the same way and you are much more calm and confident."
Palace are more confident of staying up now Tony Pulis, who has never been relegated as a manager, is in charge.

Though they went home empty handed, there were more positive signs for Palace following their back-to-back wins over West Ham and Cardiff.
And Pulis reckons he has done enough to convince the club's owners to spend in January, saying: "If we hadn't picked up points, it would be difficult to convince the powers that be to spend a little money.

"We've got some tough games coming up - Newcastle, Villa and Man City - really, really tough.
"If we can get through those games and pick a few points up, that will keep things bubbling over for that opportunity to bring a few in."