Crystal Palace vs Chelsea: N'Golo Kante fires Maurizio Sarri's side to victory
Re-live the action from Selhurst Park
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Your support makes all the difference.N'Golo Kante earned Chelsea a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace to boost the Blues' bid for a place in the Premier League's top four.
Kante, a World Cup winner with France last summer, has been deployed in a more advanced position on the right side of midfield by Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea.
He netted his third Premier League goal of the season at Selhurst Park as Chelsea ended Palace's three-match unbeaten run to move five points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal in the battle for Champions League qualification.
Willian and Ross Barkley had hit posts in quick succession in the first half and the hosts' performance showed little of the style and substance which had earned victory at Manchester City eight days earlier. Re-live the action below:
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Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea
9 minutes
Palace enjoy a first spell of prolonged possession after Zaha breaks dangerously. No chances so far in what has been a cagey opening.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea
10 minutes
Marcos Alonso is in the book for kicking the ball away in frustration after failing to keep a long ball in play. A needless yellow card.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea
11 minutes
Some muffled appeals for a Palace penalty as Zaha goes down under a challenge from Rudiger. Chelsea are then forced into some defending from a corner, which they deal with comfortably.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea
13 minutes
Hazard has won a free kick in a dangerous position. He found himself in space on the left and made his way towards the box. McArthur brought him down and now Palace have some defending to do.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea
14 minutes
A real chance for Rudiger. Willian curls in the free kick and the centre back has a free header from a few yards out. His body position is all wrong, though. He can only loop the header into Guaita's arms.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea
17 minutes
Jorginho gives the ball away with a loose pass and Andros Townsend drives towards the Chelsea goal. He lines up a shot, but Jorginho gets back to block.
At the other end, Kante fires a shot off from the edge of the box, which flashes wide of the post.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea
20 minutes
Kante, playing in a more advanced position under Sarri, is again in the thick of the action in the final third. Giroud holds the ball up in the box and it drops nicely for the midfielder. This time, his shot is deflected and loops up kindly for Guaita.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea
25 minutes
Hazard, playing out on the left today, jinks inside and wins a free kick. It's taken quickly and Chelsea win a corner, which is dealt with well by Palace. Hodgson's side have defended well so far.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea
28 minutes
Chelsea again work the ball nicely, but still can't find a way through Palace's packed defence. Sakho and Tomkins have been solid, while young right back Wan-Bissaka continues to impress.
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