Chelsea’s winless run continues as Crystal Palace punish missed chances

Jean-Philippe Mateta salvaged a late level for Crystal Palace as Chelsea’s winless streak within the Premier League prolonged to 4 contests with a 1-1 draw.

Cole Palmer’s thirteenth aim of the season opened the scoring at Selhurst Park, the place the guests dominated within the first half.

They have been unable to seek out the completion on quite a few possibilities, nevertheless, and got here to remorse it when the Frenchman levelled within the 82nd minute.

As soon as-relegation-threatened Palace have now picked up 14 factors from their final 10 top-flight contests.

Enzo Maresca made six adjustments from Chelsea’s Ipswich defeat, together with a full Premier League debut for the spectacular 18-year-old Josh Acheampong.

Palace captain Marc Guehi was again in Oliver Glasner’s line-up after serving a one-game suspension, whereas Cheick Doucoure began rather than the injured Will Hughes.

Chelsea ventured deep in Palace territory early, Jadon Sancho volleying over from a cross, whereas a giant sort out by Chris Richards broke up the run of Nicolas Jackson.

However the American defender discovered himself in bother quickly after, outsmarted by Sancho, who drove down the left and reduce in, slipping the ball to Palmer, who slotted via the legs of Guehi for the 14th-minute opener.

open picture in gallery

Chelsea almost scored once more quickly after, however Jackson’s volleyed try from a flicked-on free kick was properly large.

What few spells Palace did take pleasure in in Chelsea’s last third by the midway level within the interval have been stubbornly thwarted, and so they have been fortunate when Pedro Neto couldn’t join with Palmer’s outstretched foot after deftly working his strategy to the sting of the the six-yard field.

The Blues have been firmly within the drivers’ seat – save a short Palace foray that allowed Ismaila Sarr to nod within the path of Robert Sanchez.

It was not till shortly after after the half-hour that the Eagles had one other actual alternative, however Moises Caicedo blocked Mateta’s effort via a crowd and Sanchez was in a position to paw away Eberechi Eze’s volley.

Jackson missed a giant likelihood to pad Chelsea’s lead, beating Maxence Lacroix to the ball from Palmer’s glorious go, however fired large.

Palace, who struggled to complete from their possibilities within the first half of the season, missed one other alternative to equalise early within the second half.

Sarr labored the ball to Daniel Munoz, whose cross discovered Eze contained in the penalty space, however the England attacker flashed large of Sanchez’s left publish.

The Eagles got here nearer when Richards rose highest from a nook, forcing Sanchez to palm his effort over.

Palace had grown just a little extra into the sport by the point Daichi Kamada changed Doucoure within the 69th minute, however momentum swung again the guests’ favour.

Chelsea missed twice extra, first from a low Enzo Fernandez effort, simply large, then one other off-target try from Jackson previous the far publish.

Munoz stole the ball away and located Mateta, however Levi Colwill slid in for a well timed intervention to disclaim him an opportunity to equalise with lower than 20 minutes remaining.

The Frenchman drew the edges degree within the 82nd minute, when Sarr charged up via the centre of the pitch and laid off to Eze.

He in flip squared to Mateta, who comfortably completed from 5 yards out, the aim standing after a VAR verify to rule out a handball within the build-up.

The final two editions of this fixture had gone Chelsea’s approach, determined by last-gasp winners from former Palace loanee Conor Gallagher.

However with the previous Blues midfielder now departed for Atletico Madrid the story unfolded otherwise – Dean Henderson nullifying Chelsea’s late risk when he punched away a nook to protect the purpose.