Match Review Crystal Palace vs Chelsea

The big worry for Jose Mourinho ahead of the visit to Selhurst Park was the injury to Diego Costa. He has been at the key to Chelsea’s blistering start to the season and as the 1-0 loss showed last year, Crystal Palace have the potential to be the proverbial banana skin for Chelsea. Last season the loss at Selhurst Park, along with a few others that were seen as winnable, were the difference between Chelsea being crowned champions and finishing third.

Diego Costa had to miss out after aggravating his thigh injury by playing in both the Euro qualifiers for Spain and Loic Remy was picked ahead of Drogba to start upfront. Jose also named 17 year old Dominic Solanke in the squad. The rest of the squad picked was the same with Willian keeping his place in midfield due to injuries to Ramires and Schurrle. Courtois who had recovered from his collision with Alexis Sanchez returned to take his place in goal. The start was along expected lines with Chelsea on the attack and it wasn’t long before Willian won a free kick just outside the box. Surprisingly it was Oscar stepped up to take it and he scored with an exquisite finish into the far corner. Chelsea continued to boss possession but the second goal was proving to be difficult in the face of some dogged and ironically "Chelsea-like" defending by Palace.

The turning point of the match came when Cesar Azpilicueta lost the ball near the center line and in his effort to win it back he dived in studs up. Missing the ball completely and clattering into Mile Jedinak right in front of the referee, he can have no complaints about the decision to send him off. That could have been the lifeline Palace were looking for but just three minutes later Damien Delaney who had earlier been yellow carded had a brain freeze as he cynically pulled down Remy to earn a second yellow and handing the upper hand to Chelsea. At 10-vs-10 Chelsea who were the aggressors clearly had the advantage as it opened up spaces for their creative players. The second goal was a result of precisely that. Fabregas started a move of quick one touch passing with Hazard and Oscar who played it to him in acres of space in the box. He took his time to score his first league goal. Chelsea continued to push for a third but despite enjoying almost 80% possession they failed to add to the tally. At the other end Frazier Campbell who had worked tirelessly all day and had come close on a few occasions only to be thwarted by Gary Cahill, finally found an attacking partner in the lively Wilfried Zaha and a short period of pressure at the very end gave them a goal they hardly deserved and it proved too little too late.

 
The biggest plus over the last two matches has been the performance of Oscar who has not only been at his creative best while combining with Hazard and exchanging places with Fabregas but has also showed a bit of mongrel while going into tackles to break up play and recover possession. These are qualities Mourinho loves in his players. In the absence of Costa the contribution of the midfield quartet will be crucial else the wheels could quickly come off the juggernaut.