Chelsea match club record by beating Palace
Crystal Palace 0 Chelsea 1
Chelsea matched a club-record 11 league wins in a row as Diego Costa’s 43rd minute goal settled a tight game at Selhurst Park.
Costa rose well to meet Cesar Azpilicueta’s superb cross and steered a header back across goal and in at the far corner.
Just as at Sunderland on Wednesday, the Blues had chances to extend their slim advantage – N’Golo Kante, Marcos Alonso and Cesc Fabregas were all denied by Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey, while Alonso struck the bar from a free-kick.
Palace had the better of the few opportunities prior to Chelsea’s goal, with Jason Puncheon slicing wide, and they also made a good start to the second half, Yohan Cabaye forcing Thibaut Courtois into a low save.
But Chelsea once again held on for a clean sheet – their ninth in this winning run – and strengthened their hold at the top of the table.
However, it came at a cost, with both Costa and Kante picking up their fifth yellow cards of the season, ruling them out of Boxing Day’s game with Bournemouth.
Costa’s goal was not just the only attempt on target of a drab first half, it was also the sole moment of quality.
But within six minutes of the restart, both goalkeepers were tested – Courtois saving Cabaye’s firm drive after Azpilicueta’s poor header, while at the other end Kante’s shot was beaten away by Hennessey.
The Palace keeper denied Kante again later in the second half and Marcos Alonso went close on three occasions, shooting into the side netting, producing a save from Hennessey before beating the keeper – but not the woodwork – from a free-kick.
Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill; Moses (Ivanovic 78), Kante, Matic, Alonso; Willian (Fabregas 63), Costa (Batshuayi 89), Hazard.
Subs not used: Begovic, Zouma, Chalobah, Pedro.
