Crystal Palace 1-0 Chelsea: Bonus Points

The Premier League leaders visited Selhurst Park on a wonderfully warm afternoon but whether the uplifting feeling that good weather provides would stay remained to be seen.

I had a dream on Wednesday night. Palace beat Chelsea 1-0 courtesy of a sixth minute header from Scott Dann. Anything remotely close to that would be welcomed with open arms.

Chelsea arrived without veteran striker Samuel Eto’o, banned midfielder Ramires and defender Ashley Cole. Palace had similar injury concerns with Chamakh still out and Dwight Gayle joining him on the sidelines. So Pulis opted to go with the same line up.

Speroni, Ward, Mariappa, Dann, Delaney, Jedinak, Dikgacoi, Ledley, Bolasie (O’Keefe), Puncheon (Parr), Jerome (Murray)

 

The first half began with a lot of Chelsea possession. You would expect nothing less from a team exuding confidence and swagger after their six goal demolition of fellow title hopefuls Arsenal last weekend.

You could fogive Palace fans felt this was a ‘free game‘. One in which no-one gave us a hope of winning and the view was that the next two fixtures against Cardiff and Villa were considered much more important to the bigger picture.

There was something missing from this Chelsea side from the off. The back line looked tense and even the first attack from out wide by Palace showed that there could be something gained. Much needed encouragement but it was not to deflect from what needed to be another staunch back line performance.

@theeaglesbeak followed the game on Twitter in the mountains outside Cape Town. Bellowed Eagles when we won!

— Capetown_Eagle (@Capetown_Eagle) March 30, 2014

That Palace defence held firm throughout the first half and a lot can be said of the centre back pairing of Delaney and Dunn. Fully acquainted with each now and both protecting the goal ably guarded by Speroni. With only Torres up front to deal with, even though the class could shine through at any time, he continues to be his former Liverpool self.

There is a wealth of talent in the Chelsea side so it was not only a loan striker to be concerned about. Any of their players could turn it on at any time. Hazard tried to get things going in the opening half with a few runs but he was not having the support while Lampard is not the player he once was.

In at the half goal less and half the job done by the home side but plenty more football to come. But it could have been better with two big penalty shouts, the first when Cahill went through Bolasie to get the ball should have been given. The second when Jerome went down was arguable. Regardless, we were in the game and more importantly, Chelsea knew they were.

@TheEaglesBeak From start to finish we played like we were the champions and the singing raised the roof off the stadium. Magnificent !

— ANETTE TRATHEN (@ANETTE102) March 30, 2014

A lot of people condemn the service of our South African international Dikgacoi, but I have argued on many occassion that he is the perfect foil for Jedinak in the middle. They just work so well. While  you see Jedinak get all the plaudits, KG just gets on with the dirty work. And this was one such game.

Another player that gets more than his fair share of critics is Cameron Jerome. The on loan striker from Stoke is the stereo-typical big man up front. But he does not do what he looks like he should. Big man yes but he runs his heart out every game. In this game he did not let the Chelsea back line have a minutes peace.

The second half started and as all Palace fans know, this is a time in the game that we are often lacklustre. Not in this one though, while the visitors had their possession Palace had the audacity to take the game to them. A good spell of pressure led to the goal, the ball was whipped in and Ledley went up with John Terry and it was the latter that got the slightest last touch to put it into his own net.

The Selhurst faithful went mental, not that they weren’t before. And I’m pretty sure that every Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal fan reacted in the same way. It was a goal that could potentially effect both ends of the table.

With more than half an hour still to play, the game was far from over. Urgency crept into Chelsea’s game and that may not have helped their game. Their best chance fell to Eden Hazard who was through to shoot at goal but Speroni not only saved well but forced the ball away from an incoming Torres who was then given offside.

That save alone was almost as big as a second goal but there were chances. Jerome who out of anyone deserved a goal was involved in a break and his shot came back off the post. Then Ledley, Puncheon and O’Keefe all had efforts and it was looking more likely to see a Palace second rather than a Chelsea equaliser.

https://twitter.com/deburcapadraig/status/449968264865939457

As the whistle blew Selhurst Park erupted, not that our old ground isn’t used to such a loud noise but this result was massive. Arguably looking at 37 points for survival, this was a welcome three to put us just six away, two wins. As many Palace would have done the same, I had pencilled in games that we could get something out of. This was not one of them.

Proud of every single one of the players today. Not that isn’t in any way different to any week but the performance was pure heart and guts from Speroni in goal all the way through to Jerome up front.

Simply, Palace and proud.

This is how things stand at the bottom after the fantastic win against Chelsea;

Our friends at Chelsea Stats gave us their thoughts on the result;

Football. Bloody hell.

Palace were lucky to have eleven men when Puncheon went in at the shin of our Spanish full back early on. That was a red in my opinion and he was later involved with a foul and kicked the ball away at 1-0. Considering the two yellows Willian had at Villa it seems a little strange these weren’t dealt with by Lee Mason. 

Palace were worthy winners regardless and should be disappointed not to have sorted out their goal difference for the relegation run-in. Palace were quicker, stronger and more organised than Chelsea for the entire game and the blues, in white, were left to pump cross after cross from rubbish angles playing into the hands of Speroni. He was spot on when asked and also into the hands of a Tony Pulis rearguard that was well drilled. Palace were lightening on the counter attack and should have killed the game off earlier. Three, four or five goals would not have flattered the team.

I predicted this sort of result for Palace back in December when Palace came to the bridge, but was hopeful it wouldn’t be against us. See you next season!