Crystal Palace’s ex-loan star Conor Gallagher scored a brace to give Chelsea a 3-1 win at Selhurst Park on Monday.
Roy Hodgson set his Eagles up to stymy the Blues and it worked a treat for a while, as Jefferson Lerma’s spectacular strike gave the counter-attacking side a 1-0 lead before the break.
[ WATCH: CRYSTAL PALACE vs CHELSEA FULL MATCH REPLAY ]
Gallagher, however, pushed Chelsea level off a Malo Gusto cross right after halftime. The Eagles got right back into shape and looked set to claim a point before Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer teamed up to cue up Gallagher for a winner in the 90th minute.
Enzo Fernandez put the game to bed two minutes later with Chelsea’s third goal.
The Blues had conceded four goals in each of their last two Premier League fixtures — defeats to Liverpool and Wolves — which put auricio Pochettino back on the hot seat, but Gallagher saved his boss blushes off Palmer’s assist before the latter set up Fernandez two minutes later.
Chelsea move onto 34 points, good for 10th place and two points off seventh, while Crystal Palace’s 24 points are five clear of the bottom three.
Blues power through the middle to claim needed win
Chelsea had 79 percent of the ball when it went to the halftime locker room but trailed 1-0 as Roy Hodgson’s plan to frustrate Maurico Pochettino’s already anxious Blues was working well.
While Chelsea may not yet have a well-oiled team, they do have difference makers who can pop up at any given moment, and the second half saw them strong through the spine.
Conor Gallagher’s slicked-back hair gives him a bit of a pirate’s look, and the former Palace star was prepared to do anything to pilfer points for the Blues. Gallagher and Enzo Fernandez ran the middle of the park, and false-nine Cole Palmer was all over the attacking third.
Neither Christopher Nkunku nor Raheem Sterling were particularly effective off the bench, but Sterling made one of the moments that mattered in the match-winning goal. Even when players like the aforementioned aren’t at their best, they can still change a game. And they did. And Poch needed it.
What’s next?
Chelsea step up to visit Manchester City at 12:30pm ET Saturday, while Palace get a full week to prepare for a 3pm Monday trip to Everton.
Crystal Palace vs Chelsea live score: 1-3
Goal: Lerma (30'), Gallagher (47', 90+1'), Fernandez (90+3')
Crystal Palace vs Chelsea player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Crystal Palace vs Chelsea player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Crystal Palace vs Chelsea player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Enzo Fernandez goal (video) — Crystal Palace 1-3 Chelsea (90+3' minute)
Conor Gallagher goal (video) — Crystal Palace 1-2 Chelsea (90+1' minute)
Conor Gallagher goal (video) — Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea (47th minute)
They needed that.
Ex-Palace loan star Conor Gallagher finishes Malo Gusto’s cross well, and it isn’t easy stuff.
The ball is just below waist level but that doesn’t stop the midfielder from snapping through the ball from around the spot.
We’re tied up at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace vs Chelsea halftime analysis: 1-0
Chelsea has 79 percent of the ball but registered 0.00 xG until just after the clock read 45:00.
That’s pretty wild, as Conor Gallagher’s shot dragged wide of the goal bumped than up to 0.06 but the Blues will be worried about the actual goals. They trail 1-0 and have been out-attempted 6-1. Palace also has the only three shots on target of the game.
One of them was Lerma’s incredible goal. All to do for Mauricio Pochettino.
Jefferson Lerma goal (video) - Crystal Palace 1-0 Chelsea (30th minute)
What a smash.
Jefferson Lerma bumbles a bid at a shot but gets a better opportunity within 30 seconds.
The Eagles midfielder is fully extended to get his right peg on a shot that is hit with real venom. Djordje Petrovic flies through the air but can’t stop it from reaching the upper 90.
Incredible stuff. 1-0 despite just 21% of the ball.
How to watch Crystal Palace vs Chelsea live, stream link, time
Kickoff: 3 pm ET, Monday (Feb. 12)
TV channel: USA Network
Online: Watch via NBCSports.com
Crystal Palace lineup
In the Palace corner 👊#CPFC | #CRYCHE
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) February 12, 2024
Chelsea lineup
Representing Chelsea. 👊@ParimatchUK | #CFC | #PalChe pic.twitter.com/DUvqtIktik
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 12, 2024
Focus on Crystal Palace, injury news
OUT: Michael Olise (hamstring), Eberechi Eze (hamstring), Rob Holding (ankle), Cheick Doucoure (achilles - out for season), Marc Guehi (knee), Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Joel Ward (hamstring)
Focus on Chelsea, injury news
OUT: Romeo Lavia (thigh), Benoit Badiashille (hip), Wesley Fofana (torn ACL), Reece James (thigh), Robert Sanchez (knee), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring) | QUESTIONABLE: Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), Levi Colwill (undisclosed)
