Chelsea suffer shock defeat at Palace
Crystal Palace 2 Chelsea 1
Rock-bottom Palace stunned Chelsea in the derby at Selhurst Park.
The hosts, without so much as a goal, much less a point, after their opening seven matches, hit Antonio Conte’s men with a ferocious opening salvo and ended their goal drought on 11 minutes when Yohan Cabaye’s close-range effort deflected off Cesar Azpilicueta and beat a wrong-footed Thibaut Courtois.
The lead was short-lived, as Tiemoue Bakayako was given freedom just outside the six yard box to nod in a Cesc Fabregas corner on 18 minutes – his first Premier league goal.
But Wilfried Zaha, back after a long spell out injured, made the most of some robust ball-winning by Mamadou Sakho in midfield to wriggle into the box and slot home low inside Courtois’ far post.
Blues boss Conte rang the changes after the break, with an out-of-sorts Michy Batshuayi replaced by Pedro.
But it was another substitute, Charly Musonda, who had one of the best opportunities to restore parity – volleying over after being picked out by a perfect pass by Fabregas, who himself went close when his shot hit the bar.
Chelsea could have few complaints, though, as their perfect away record came to an end.
They often succumbed to the pressure Palace exerted and their passing lacked its usual precision, while the energy and pace of Zaha and Andros Townsend frequently unsettled them.
Chelsea’s injury worries also increased when Victor Moses went off late in the first half with what looked like a hamstring problem.
Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill; Moses (Zappacosta 40), Bakayoko, Fabregas, Alonso; Willian (Musonda 64), Batshuayi (Pedro 56), Hazard.
Subs not used: Caballero, Rudiger, Christensen, Scott.
