Chelsea beat Palace to make it back-to-back wins under Rosenior

Crystal Palace 1
Richards (88′)

Chelsea 3
Estevao (34′)
Joao Pedro (50′)
Fernandez (pen, 64′)

Chelsea comfortably won at Selhurst Park to make it two victories from two Premier League matches under new head coach Liam Rosenior.

Estevao, playing in the absence of Cole Palmer, put the Blues ahead and Joao Pedro made it 2-0 with his fourth goal in his past five league appearances, before Enzo Fernandez’s penalty and the 73rd-minute sending-off of Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.

The 10-man hosts got a consolation goal when Chris Richards headed in late on.

Estevao pounced on a mistake by Palace’s Jaydee Canvot to open the scoring in fine style.

The young Brazilian picked up Canvot’s stray pass, raced into the opposition’s half and away from the chasing Tyrick Mitchell before firing past keeper Dean Henderson.

Joao Pedro doubled the lead early in the second half, laying the ball off to Estevao, collecting the return ball over the top and then cutting inside Wharton and shooting beyond Henderson.

And after a lengthy VAR check convinced referee Darren England that Canvot had blocked Joao Pedro’s goal-bound shot with his arm, Fernandez calmly stuck away the resulting spot-kick.

Wharton, already on a booking, was given a second yellow card after a foul on Moises Caicedo.

To their credit, the Eagles did not give up and they reduced the deficit when Chelea were unable to clear their lines after keeper Robert Sanchez had produced a fine save to keep out Jefferson Lerma’s header, and Richards was able to nod in from close range.

Chelsea: Sanchez, James, Chalobah, Badiashile, Cucurella, Santos, Caicedo (Fofana 74), Estevao (Gittens 74), Fernandez, Neto (Gusto 74), Joao Pedro (Delap 85).
Subs not used: Sharman-Lowe, Acheampong, Hato, Garnacho, Guiu.