Interim Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink has called on his players to do the "dirty work" in order to help the team start climbing the Premier League table.

The defending champions won on the road for the first time since August with a 3-0 triumph at high-flying Crystal Palace this afternoon, but are still only 14th in the standings following a torrid first half of the campaign.

Hiddink acknowledged that the club's current position belies the squad at his disposal, but hinted that a lack of hard work to go with their talent is the reason behind their struggles so far.

"We've started working and if the team is not doing well through a long period then you have to look for security, and that's why we emphasised on good, hard work, tactically and a defensive way," Hiddink told reporters.

"I don't like to see the team drop back very far and seek false security. When they get the ball they know to play. We don't need to add a lot of quality of players: they are blessed by nature with big quality. But they have to know when things aren't going as wished that we have to look for causes, and that's why we started working.

"The very talented players, they start working also, to invest in the dirty work and not just the beautiful game they can play, because this league is very demanding. And if you think you can do it just on your quality, what's more given by talent than nature, then this league will kill you."

Hiddink also suggested after the match that his side have not yet given up on challenging for a spot in the top four this season.