Good morning! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's early Premier League kickoff as Crystal Palace host Queens Park Rangers in a London derby at Selhurst Park. Three points today would do both sides the world of good in their battle against the drop, perhaps completing the job for the hosts and acting as a big step for the visitors. There is plenty at stake with just 10 games of the season to go! Let's start with a look at Palace...

The Eagles come into this match right on the precipice of safety, with eight points now separating them from today's opponents, who occupy the final relegation place. It shouldn't take too many more points for them to ensure their place in the top flight for another season at least, but Alan Pardew will want to get the job done as soon as possible and today's game will have been earmarked as a real chance to get three more valuable points on the board.

Pardew has enjoyed a successful reign back at Selhurst Park so far, and he seems to be revelling in the role having endured long spells of his time with Newcastle. The former Palace player has lifted the team from the relegation zone up to 12th in the Premier League table since taking over, and has already amassed more Premier League wins in charge of the club than his predecessor Neil Warnock manager, despite only being in charge for half the amount of games as Warnock.

Whether Palace are able to push on any further this season remains to be seen, but they are likely to be content with steering comfortably clear of relegation. It has been a rocky season from the off, with Tony Pulis leaving just days before the start of the campaign having guided the team to a superb 2013-14, so they will be pleased with where they are now. As mentioned, eight points is the gap to the bottom three, but nine is the gap to the top half, so they would do well to launch a late challenge for that.

The team's form has wavered a little in recent weeks, however, with the Eagles winning just one of their last five matches in all competitions following five victories in their opening six games under Pardew. That solitary win was an impressive one away to West Ham, but they have lost three of their last four and won't want their season to peter out in the closing couple of months. They still aren't entirely clear of danger either, so the danger of being dragged back into the mire still lingers.

Palace have had an 11-day rest since their last match, which ended in a disappointing late defeat to Southampton last week. In truth, it was a dreadful opening 45 minutes to that game, but it came alive a little in the second period and could have gone either way in the end. Zaha hit the post and Palace spurned a couple of other opportunities before Sadio Mane capitalised on a Speroni error to score the only goal of the game seven minutes from time.

© Getty Images

That was the first time that they had dropped points away from home under Pardew, and interestingly it is in front of their own fans where they have had most trouble this season. They are the only Premier League side to have a poorer home record than away, claiming 60% (18 of 30) of their points on the road so far. Only Leicester have picked up fewer home points in the league this season, while Palace haven't won at game at Selhurst Park in more than two months. Indeed, they have only won one of their last eight home games in all competitions and only three in the league all season.

They have also now gone 10 Premier League games without a clean sheet at home, last keeping the opposition at bay when Leicester were the visitors back in September. It is fair to say that Palace are more suited to away games, with their pace on the break and threat from set pieces, but Pardew has made no secret of his desire to improve things at Selhurst Park. Matches like today's, where they are expected to be on top for the majority of the game, don't necessarily suit them, though.

Another other team would be licking their lips at coming up against a side with such a poor home record this season, but QPR know that their away form is even worse. The Hoops have been dreadful on the road this season, losing 13 of their 14 away games in all competitions and 12 of 13 in the Premier League. Their 2-0 victory over Sunderland last month provided their first points of their campaign, but the three-point haul is still the worst in the top four tiers of English football.

If they can't significantly improve that over the remaining months of the season then, simply put, it will be the reason for their relegation. Their home form has generally been good - although that has also faltered in recent weeks - but they have not been able to back that up on the road. As a result, they find themselves in trouble with just 10 games to go until the end of the season, and in Chris Ramsey they have a manager inexperienced at dealing with such situations.

That is not to say that Ramsey is not up to the job, but experience can often be key in such situations - as Pulis has shown in recent seasons and Pardew has shown since joining Palace. The victory over Sunderland last month remains their only success since Ramsey was appointed following Harry Redknapp's surprise resignation which, coupled with Aston Villa's improvement under Tim Sherwood, has seen them drop back into the relegation zone.

They do have the chance to climb back out of the bottom three should they win today, although it could only be for a few hours. Their goal difference is superior to Villa so, with three points separating the two teams either side of the dotted line, victory would demote the Villans down a place before their 3pm kickoff. It is a huge game they face later today as well, with 16th-placed Sunderland lying in wait at the Stadium of Light.

Rangers had the same chance to climb out of the relegation zone last weekend as they played their game in hand against Tottenham while the rest of the league took a break due to the FA Cup. The Hoops put in a battling performance against Mauricio Pochettino's side and may feel they were worthy of something, particularly having had two penalty appeals turned down. However, Harry Kane's brace was enough for Spurs to get the win, with Sandro's reply against his old club not enough.

© Getty Images

That extended QPR's run to just one win from their last 12 games in all competitions, and one in 11 in the league since Christmas. Their haul of five points from a possible 33 in that time is the joint lowest in the division, and they have failed to pick up a single point from the last nine available in the league. Indeed, they have lost eight of their last nine in all competitions, something they will need to change sooner rather than later if they are to avoid the drop.

This will be QPR's third London derby in a row and, while their previous two against North London giants Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur may have been a little more daunting, as a whole they have fared poorly against teams from the capital. Indeed, they are winless in their last 11 Premier League London derbies, picking up just three points from a possible 33 in those games. That includes a goalless draw between these two earlier in the season, but that was a rare clean sheet for QPR, who have the worst defensive record in the league.

TEAM NEWS: The teams are in for both sides, and the headline news is that Glenn Murray returns from suspension to lead the Palace line. He is the only change to the side that lost to Southampton, replacing Gayle in the side. QPR, meanwhile, make three changes including a first start of the season for Shaun Wright-Phillips. Adel Taarabt also gets a rare start for the visitors, while Furlong replaces Ferdinand to complete the trio of changes. Full teams for both sides coming right up...

CRYSTAL PALACE STARTING XI: Speroni; Kelly, Delaney, Dann, Ward; Bolasie, Ledley, McArthur, Zaha, Puncheon; Murray

CRYSTAL PALACE SUBS: Hennessey, Hangeland, Mariappa, Souare, Ameobi, Sanogo, Gayle

QPR STARTING XI: Green; Furlong, Caulker, Onuoha, Yun; Wright-Phillips, Sandro, Henry, Phillips; Austin, Taarabt

QPR SUBS: McCarthy, Hill, Kranjcar, Hoilett, Vargas, Zamora, Grego-Cox

What can we make of those two sides, then? Well, there are no surprises as far as Palace are concerned. Gayle is perhaps unfortunate to lose his place in the side at the first available opportunity, but Murray seems to be ahead of him in the pecking order at the moment and, with Campbell and Chamakh still sidelined through injury, Murray returns from suspension to lead the line. He had an eventful game against Spurs last time out, scoring twice before getting sent off, and he could well make the difference again today.

Arguably Palace's star performer in recent weeks has been Puncheon, who was instrumental in the win over West Ham having been given space to operate between the lines. He will be looking forward to linking up with Murray again following the duo's success at Upton Park, and they will be assisted on the wings by Bolasie and Zaha. Both blow hot and cold at times but undoubtedly possess great skill and pace that can hurt the opposition. They are unlikely to get as many chances on the counter-attack as normal today, so will need to break QPR down.

© Getty Images

Ledley and McArthur continue in midfield, with Jedinak serving the second of his four-game suspension for elbowing Diafra Sakho in the win over West Ham. Mutch is also sidelined, but there is a boost in the form of Sanogo returning to the bench following a hamstring injury. There are no changes at the back, but Speroni will be keen to atone for his error that gifted Southampton the winning goal last time out.

As for QPR, it is a very interesting selection from Chris Ramsey. He has brought a few players in from the wilderness since taking over at the club, and he continues that theme today. Shaun Wright-Phillips, something of a forgotten man at Loftus Road, makes his first Premier League start of the season to inject a bit of pace into the attack, with Vargas and Hoilett both forced to start on the bench.

Taarabt is also given a rare start for the club - just his third in the league all season. There is no doubting the Moroccan's quality, as evidenced by a loan move to Italian giants AC Milan last season, but questions remain over his temperament. Players like him can go one of two ways in a relegation battle - they can either provide the spark of magic needed to keep the team in the league or they can shirk away from the challenge when things get tough. It will be interesting to see which category Taarabt finds himself in.

Just in front of Taarabt will be QPR's danger man who, unlike Wright-Phillips and Taarabt, has been trusted for the entire campaign and is the biggest reason when the Hoops are still in touch with those above them. Charlie Austin has 15 goals to his name this season and, with the next England squad announcement just round the corner, will be hoping to give Roy Hodgson another late reminder why he should be included.

© Getty Images

Sandro again starts in midfield following his recent return from injury, and he will look to build on his goal against Spurs last time out. It has been a frustrating season for the midfielder, but he could be crucial in the final 10 games of the season, so Ramsey will be glad to have him back. The third change to the team sees Furlong come into the side at right-back, with Rio Ferdinand making way top accommodate Onuoha in central defence.

PREDICTION: We're 10 minutes away from kickoff at Selhurst Park, which means that it is time for a prediction! This game pits a poor home record against a poor away record but, while QPR have more to fight for, Crystal Palace should have the quality required to return to winning ways today. I'm expecting a tight match and Austin to get on the scoresheet for the visitors, but for me the hosts will edge this one 2-1.

Anyone expecting a goalfest today may be disappointed I'm afraid. These two have shared just seven goals in their last five Premier League meetings and only one in their last three, including the goalless draw in the reverse fixture. However, the good news for QPR fans is that they have never lost a top-flight match away to Crystal Palace. That does only include five matches - the last five of which have all ended as draws - but the Hoops have also won their last two at Selhurst Park, both of which came in the Championship.

Indeed, QPR are unbeaten in their last seven league meetings with Palace, picking up three wins in that time. Palace are without a home victory over QPR since 2006 but have never lost to the Hoops in the Premier League.

QPR have allowed 160 shots on goal against them this season, the highest tally in the Premier League, and they will have to be particularly wary about set pieces this afternoon. Palace have scored a league-high 17 goals from set-piece situations this season, including all three in the recent victory over West Ham at Upton Park.

The players are out and there is a great atmosphere as ever in Selhurst Park. This is a big game for both sides, and we're just a couple of minutes away from kickoff now!

KICKOFF: Palace get us underway for this London derby as they look to avoid becoming just the second team this season to drop points at home to QPR.

The visitors have seen plenty of the ball in these opening exchanges and they are trying to get it forward quite quickly at the moment. Taarabt has already been involved a lot and it is looking like he could be a key player today.

The pitch doesn't look great at Selhurst Park, it must be said. The ball is bobbling around quite a bit and that could play a part this afternoon.

A first glimpse of Zaha breaking through as he spins away from his man and moves down the right flank. He manages to squeeze a cross away, but it takes a deflection on the way through and is comfortably cleared.

QPR will be pleased with how they have started this match. They have played some decent football and are always looking to get on the front foot. The initial signs are that the changes have added a bit of a spark to the team.

A number of players have already lost their footing on this pitch as well, some at fairly key moments in the final third. That could prove to be another important factor this afternoon.

Taarabt has been really involved so far, and he looks to be up for it today. He is playing with a positive attitude, with his first thought always to get forward. His final ball has been relatively poor so far, but that could be a case of rustiness that may shake off as the match wears on.

Chris Ramsey will be pleased with what he has seen in the opening quarter of an hour or so. A point would be a decent result for his side here and they have probably just about shaved the opening exchanges of this game, but there is still a long way to go.

Yun floats a deep free kick towards the edge of the penalty area, but Palace have held a high line and Caulker's subsequent header was too far out to trouble the keeper. The QPR skipper rose well to get his head to it, but it bounces harmlessly wide.

Zaha does well to close Yun down quickly and win the ball back off the QPR defender. However, he can't make the most of it, with his early cross striking Yun and going out for a throw. If Zaha and Bolasie could sort their final delivery out then they would be a real force.

Superb challenge from Sandro inside the box. Bolasie gets away from his man and cuts inside before playing a clever reverse pass to Murray inside the box. The Palace striker has a bit of space in the box, but that is quickly closed down as Sandro makes the sliding tackle. He had to get that right! From the resulting corner, Dann gets a head to the driving delivery, but he can't get enough on it to turn it goalwards.

CHANCE! Decent chance at the back post, and again it falls to Dann from a corner. This time Puncheon curls the ball towards the far post, but Dann is always stretching to get there and would do well to score.

First blood goes to Palace, and it is the two wingers who combine! Bolasie picks the ball up on the left and is given too much room from Furlong. He sprints to the byline and drives a fine low ball right across the face of goal. There is a huddle of players all sliding in at the back post, but it looks like Zaha who gets the final touch to bundle it home. He clattered into the post afterwards, but the most important thing is that he has given his side the lead!

It really was a hetty collision between Zaha and the upright, and the goalscorer looks to be in some pain after that. It may only be an impact injury, but for now he will have to go off and get some treatment.

A big cheer goes around the ground as Zaha comes back on, but he is not exactly moving freely at the moment. He is clearly still feeling the effects of that impact and Pardew will keep an eye on his goalscorer over the next 10 minutes or so.

SHOT! A long ball from the back is nodded down to Bolasie by Murray, and the winger flicks it past Sandro before being brought down in the box. There are muted appeals for a penalty - perhaps a little too muted - as Delaney fires a decent effort just wide on the turn.

That goal is a big blow to QPR, who had made a solid start to this match. They need to pick themselves up and not let their heads drop as they have the players on the field capable of turning this around.

YELLOW CARD! The first card of the afternoon is shown to Henry, who blocked off Zaha after the winger had slipped the ball through his legs.

Palace win another corner and Puncheon's delivery towards the front post again gives his side a chance. Murray attacks it well and wins the header, but he can't get over it and puts his header too high.

Palace fans will be pleased to hear that Zaha is back moving freely, and it is him and Bolasie who are causing most of the problems now. Furlong and Yun could be in for a long afternoon if this carries on like this as both Palace wingers look to be in the mood.

QPR lost their way a bit immediately after the Palace goal, but they have settled a little in the last couple of minutes. They are yet to create any sort of scoring chance, however.

SHOT! Taarabt looks to change that, picking the ball up from Wright-Phillips and unleashing a powerful effort from 25 yards. He gets plenty behind his strike and it would be a difficult one to deal with it was a few yards lower, but as it is it flies over the top. QPR could do with more of that shoot-on-sight mentality, though.

Wright-Phillips has struggled to really get involved in this match so far. Taarabt has been the busier of the two outcasts given a chance today and looks to be the only QPR player capable of creating anything at the moment.

Palace double their lead, and again Bolasie is the creator. He earns a yard on Furlong with some good acceleration before drilling another fine low ball across the six-yard box. Green gets a slight touch to this one, but he can't divert it out of the path of McArthur, who applies the finishing touch.

Two goals in as many minutes for Palace, and this one is surely over now! This one comes down the opposite flank as Zaha squeezes a pass back to Ward despite being surrounded by three white shirts down the right channel. Ward picks the ball up in the area and his weak shot takes a deflection which sends it spinning into the bottom corner. Green saw it late, but probably should have done better with both of those goals.

Well, it looked like a long way back at 2-0, but that is surely game over now. QPR haven't created a hint of a chance so far and to come from three goals behind is a huge ask. Those two goals have killed the visitors off, and it is the Palace wingers who have done the damage.

There will be two minutes of added time at the end of the first half.

The opening 45 minutes come to an end, and this one may well already be over as a contest. Crystal Palace go into the break with a commanding 3-0 lead over London rivals QPR courtesy of two goals in quick succession towards the end of the first half. It is a long way back for QPR and, in truth, they showed very few signs in that first half that they are capable of getting anywhere close to completing a comeback.

It is the two Palace wingers that have been the key players in the first half, and they combined for the opening goal. Bolasie got the better of young Furlong down the flank before drilling a fine low ball right across the face of goal. Zaha showed great bravery to convert it at the back post, taking an almighty whack from the post for his troubles. There was little the defence could do with the quality of the ball in, and Palace weren't short of takers.

Bolasie was again the creator for the second goal, and it was similar piece of play from the winger that provided the assist. He again worked a yard on Furlong before drilling a low ball across the six-yard box, which this time McArthur was there to poke home from close range. Green got a touch to the cross, but couldn't divert it away from McArthur.

© Getty Images

The third arrived just 90 seconds later and came from the other wing as Zaha knocked the ball back to Ward despite being surrounded by three white shirts. The full-back's shot took a deflection on the way through and span into the bottom corner, with Green unable to get to the ball having seen it late. Again, the keeper may feel that he should have done better, but there were a number of other defensive lapses in the build-up.

It is the first time that Palace have ever scored three goals in the first half of a Premier League match but, in truth, they haven't been three goals better than QPR. The visitors have offered nothing at the other end, however, and that has been the difference. Palace have scored with all three of their shots on target and have had midfielders busting a gut to get into the box, while at the other end there was a moment when a couple of QPR midfielders hung back instead of getting into the area. That signified the difference between the two sides in that opening 45 minutes.

It would be easy to say that Ramsey's risk of starting Taarabt has backfired but, in truth, the attacking midfielder has been the only player who has looked like making something happen for his side. It will be interesting to see how Ramsey's approaches the second half, but Taarabt is one of few players available to him who is capable of coming up with something out of the blue that could potentially spark a comeback.

KICKOFF: QPR get us back underway as they look to somehow get back into this match. The visitors have made a change at the interval, with Clint Hill replacing Furlong, who endured a difficult first half. That will see Onuoha move to right-back and Hill go into the middle.

It will be interesting to see whether Onuoha has more joy against Bolasie than Furlong did. He certainly seems to be better suited physically and has more experience, so on the face of it it looks like a shrewd change from Ramsey - although you have to question why he didn't start the match like that.

Good work from Speroni as he is quick off his line to mop up a dangerous situation. It was Taarabt who sparked the break, playing a good through-ball down the middle, but Speroni was out in time to beat Wright-Phillips to the ball.

It will be interesting to see when, or indeed if, Ramsey throws caution to the wind here. He may be tempted to go into damage limitation mode rather than chase such an unlikely comeback, but risks do need to be taken when you are in QPR's position.

YELLOW CARD! Sandro goes into the book for a foul on Bolasie moments after Henry looked to have grabbed the winger's ankle. That could have been a yellow for Henry too, which would have been his second.

Puncheon appears to be in pain here for Palace, and it doesn't look like he will be able to continue. Pardew won't want to take any risks either with this match as good as won.

CRYSTAL PALACE SUB: There is the change, with Dwight Gayle coming on to replace the injured Puncheon, who can barely put any weight on his leg at the moment.

CRYSTAL PALACE SUB: A quick second change for Palace as Zaha, still limping after colliding with the post following his goal, makes way to be replaced by Adrian Mariappa.

YELLOW CARD! Murray, just back from suspension, becomes the first Palace player in the book for a heavy challenge on Henry on the halfway line.

Bolasie, who has been quieter in this second half, has moved over to the right after those two Palace changes. Yun won't thank Pardew for that change as, having struggled with Zaha throughout so far, he now has to face half an hour against Bolasie!

The early news regarding Puncheon is that he may have a hamstring problem, although it looks to be a serious one if that is the case. He could barely walk, even with the help of a physio, and the initial contact looked innocuous. He could be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

This has been such a tepid performance from the visitors so far. Taarabt's one shot from range is the only thing that might have got the travelling fans off their seats. Other than that they have offered nothing and shown no signs of the fight required in a relegation battle. It has been so poor.

The heads are down from the QPR players right now and they look like a beaten team. Ramsey will need to pick his side up and find some momentum from somewhere as there have been very few positives to take from this performance so far.

There are too many backward passes from QPR, which is inviting pressure from the lively Palace attackers. They are showing no ambition to get forward and Austin must be growing increasingly frustrated up front right now.

The visitors finally try to get a bit of forward thrust going as Phillips and Wright-Phillips link up. The latter is almost in down the right channel, but Speroni must have grown bored as he comes off his line to make the interception.

CHANCE! The first hint of a chance for QPR! Taarabt is unsurprisingly the creator, pinging a good ball with pace into the box. Austin rises well to meet it and flick a header towards goal, but it is straight at Speroni, who makes a comfortable catch.

Superb defending from Caulker as he recovers from a slip to thwart Murray. Bolasie does well to pick Murray out in the middle and, having seen Caulker slip, the Palace striker takes it down on his chest and fires a good volley towards the bottom corner. Caulker throws his body in the way to make a block, though.

SHOT! Another sight of goal for Austin as the ball sits up for a volley from the corner of the area, but again he can only fire his effort straight at the keeper. Another simple catch for Speroni to make.

YELLOW CARD! Onuoha is penalised right on the edge of the box for a foul on Gayle, and he is furious with the decision. His protestations earn him a yellow card, although the replays show that he had a point.

SAVE! Bolasie fires the resulting free kick hard and low into the middle but, despite it bouncing right in front of him, Green holds on to it well.

QPR are at least beginning to show a little more attacking intent, but that is more down to Palace taking their foot off the pedal than any great work from the visitors. The travelling fans are giving them the 'Ole!' treatment now, finding a little humour in a dismal performance at least.

CRYSTAL PALACE SUB: A third and final change for the hosts as Murray departs to be replaced by Yaya Sanogo.

Palace have been in cruise control throughout this second half, rarely getting out of second gear. Still, though, QPR have failed to put them under any concerted pressure.

Oh my word, where on earth has that come from?! Phillips gets one back for the visitors with a contender for goal of the season. He lines up a strike from all of 40 yards before firing the sweetest of hits right into the postage stamp in the top corner. Speroni was helpless, despite it being from so far out. What an incredible goal.

QPR SUBS: A couple of changes for the visitors as Ramsey goes in search of an unlikely comeback. Sandro and Wright-Phillips are the men to make way, with Niko Kranjcar and Reece Grego-Cox replacing them.

Despite that goal, QPR are still playing sideways and backwards passes. They need to get the ball going forward to put pressure on Palace, who are sure to be stunned after that goal - like the rest of us!

SAVE! Phillips almost scores a second screamer! The ball is teed up to him from a free kick and this time he lets flying from 35 yards, forcing Speroni into a flying save to tip it behind.

Kranjcar looks to get in on the act as the ball drops to him 25 yards out. He takes it down but has to rush his volley due to the pressure on the ball, and he ends up skewing his effort well off target.

I'm not quite sure where they've come from, but we will have five minutes of added time at the end of this match.

The QPR fans are urging Phillips to shoot whenever he gets the ball now! They haven't had much to shout about this afternoon, but they won't forget that phenomenal goal in a hurry.

Crystal Palace comfortably see out the victory following that minor late scare as they move 11 points clear of the relegation zone. Goals from Zaha, McArthur and Ward ended the game as a contest before half time, while Phillips's incredible reply from distance was merely a consolation goal.

That is all we have time for this afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for the early kickoff as Palace take another step towards safety with a comfortable win over QPR. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction, analysis and player ratings. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!