COMING into this game, Chelsea hadn’t won a Premier League game away from home since November 22nd, and Palace hadn’t won one at home since the 1st of the same month.
A classic case of a movable object vs stoppable force, it looked like a draw was written in the stars.
Enter, the Blues’ Brazilian boys.
Estevao opened the scoring with a wonderful solo goal, capitalising on a hospital pass from Jaydee Canvot, and almost had the visitors two to the good before the break, putting on a first-half clinic at Selhurst Park.
Joao Pedro added a second for the Blues, running onto his friend Estevao’s flick and converting with his left foot.
Canvot’s day went from bad to worse when he blocked a Joao Pedro shot with his arm, giving Chelsea a penalty that was converted by Enzo Fernandez and saw the Blues walk away with three goals and three points.
It would’ve been a perfect afternoon but for a late Palace consolation scored by Chris Richards.
Here’s how SunSport Chelsea Reporter Lloyd Canfield rated the players…
ROBERT SANCHEZ – 7
Made a vital save in the opening moments to deny Jean-Philippe Mateta an early Palace goal, after what was some pretty dire defending.
Looked like a leader from the back, a role he has grown into this season, and claimed crosses really well too.
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Even with the goal he conceded, he produced a stunning save to try to prevent it, but just couldn’t get to the rebound.
REECE JAMES – 6
Was perhaps fortunate to escape returning AFCON hero Ismaila Sarr giving Palace the lead with a wayward header in the first half, but was otherwise pretty strong.
His leadership was clear to see in the second half, and in a more defensive right-back role he looked more than comfortable, still occasionally driving forward to impact the game in an attacking sense.
TREVOH CHALOBAH – 7
Utterly solid on his return to the club from which he re-found his feet after an initial Chelsea exile.
Strong along the ground and in the air, dealing well with the physicality of Mateta, as well as playing it out from the back nicely.
BENOIT BADIASHILE – 5
Bailed out by Robert Sanchez early on after moving pretty slowly on the ball and failing to move it on quickly enough.
He did improve though in the second half, looking much more confidently on the ball and being less threatened by the Palace attack when Chelsea were comfortable.
MARC CUCURELLA – 6
Was more of a conventional left-back than usual, but still put in a really solid display.
Nothing to write home about, just a good showing with no real mistakes.
MOISES CAICEDO – 7
You could find yourself in the middle of a ghost town, with no one around, and if you had a ball at your feet Moises Caicedo would be there to take it off you.
Closes people down with a ridiculous sense of ease, but will be slightly disappointed with another yellow card – my greatest fear with him is that he will be missing two more games through suspension soon enough.
ANDREY SANTOS – 6
Made a brilliant first-half clearance to deny an onrushing Brennan Johnson his first Crystal Palace goal, and looked generally solid in midfield.
He might not be at the level where he’s running Premier League games in midfield at the highest level, but there is certainly a player in there who can do so, and still do a good job for the team this season.
ESTEVAO – 8
He can do some beautiful things with the ball at his feet, and proved that with his opening goal which was a work of art.
Drove away from Tyrick Mitchell, who is no slouch, with a mystical, magical run, and tucked the ball across goal past Dean Henderson.
Almost had another just before half-time, before adding a neat assist for Joao Pedro to make it two.
Has got to become a regular starter, he has to, he can be someone to turn the tide of a game for the Blues, and maybe the tide of their season.
ENZO FERNANDEZ – 5
Spurned a half-chance on the half-volley early on in the first half, and may have benefitted from just being able to slow it down at times and take a little more time on the ball.
Did improve somewhat in the second half on the ball, and dispatched his penalty nicely to his credit, but there is more in the tank than what he showed today.
PEDRO NETO – 3
It’s often the case with Neto that he does a lot of good work, but is let down by his end product.
Today, he really failed to produce anything of note, and was almost the opposite of Estevao on the other wing, who was dynamic, threatening and produced a goal and an assist.
Looked a bit out of sorts on the left, and seems far more comfortable on the right wing, but if it’s a choice between him and Estevao in that role, he should lose his place in the team.
JOAO PEDRO – 7
Had a relatively quiet first half, in which it didn’t look like it would be his day, but he came alive in the second.
Ran brilliantly onto an Estevao flick and cut back onto his left foot with excellent composure before slotting the ball through the legs of Dean Henderson.
Was denied a second goal by the arm of Canvot, but did his bit to win a penalty that was finished by Fernandez.
SUBS:
JAMIE GITTENS (PEDRO NETO, 73) – 4
Showed flashes of his technique and quick feet, but Chelsea were in control when he came on and didn’t need him to really take any risks in terms of attacking play.
Defensively, lost his man at the corner from which the Blues conceded late on.
WESLEY FOFANA (MOISES CAICEDO, 73) – 5
Added an extra body in the Chelsea backline to establish further control as they saw the game out.
MALO GUSTO (ESTEVAO, 73) – 5
Was never going to offer the attacking dynamism of the man whom he replaced, but didn’t need to.
Was solid at the back as Chelsea saw the game out.
LIAM DELAP (JOAO PEDRO, 84) – 4
May be harsh, but he was perhaps beaten a little easily in the air when Chelsea conceded late on.
JORREL HATO (REECE JAMES, 81) – N/A
