Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended

Crystal Palace vs Chelsea live: Diego Costa header gives Blues a happy holiday and stretch lead to nine points

Follow live updates from the Premier League clash at Selhurst Park

Joe Miles
Friday 16 December 2016 15:15 GMT
Comments
Diego Costa heads Chelsea in front against Crystal Palace
Diego Costa heads Chelsea in front against Crystal Palace (Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Chelsea lead the Premier League table by nine points after beating Crystal Palace 1-0 at Selhurst Park on Saturday thanks to a first-half Diego Costa header, with Arsenal and Liverpool not playing until Sunday and Monday respectively, and recorded their 11th consecutive victory. Re-live the action here.

  • Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 1-0 at Selhurst Park
  • Diego Costa header seals three points for the Blues
  • Costa picks up fifth booking of the season and will miss Boxing Day clash with Bournemouth
  • N'Golo Kante will also be suspended against Cherries
  • Chelsea lead Arsenal and Liverpool by nine points

Follow live coverage on our blog below...

Please allow a moment for the live blog to load.

It’s a big game for…

Cesc Fabregas: Speculation abounds about Fabregas’ future, despite him recently breaking into Antonio Conte’s starting line-up.

After scoring the decisive goal at Sunderland, he’ll hope he can further stake his claim for a regular place.

Best stat…

8: Crystal Palace have not won any of their last eight games against fellow London clubs. In fact, their last derby victory came at Stamford Bridge in August 2015.

Remember when…

John Terry scored an own goal to gift Tony Pulis’ Palace three points and effectively end Chelsea’s 2013/14 title challenge.

Player to watch…

Wilfried Zaha: The winger’s switch of international allegiances from England to Cote d’Ivoire at the end of last month has coincided with a upturn in form.

Alan Pardew has voiced his frustrations at the national team set-up for forgetting about Zaha, but that may have more to do with the possibility of him now travelling to the Africa Cup of Nations in January and missing a month of the domestic season.

Past three-meetings…

Chelsea 1 (Hazard) Crystal Palace 0
Premier League, May 2015

Chelsea 1 (Falcao) Crystal Palace 2 (Sako, Ward)
Premier League, August 2015

Crystal Palace 0 Chelsea 3 (Oscar, Willian, Costa)
Premier League, January 2016

Form guide…

Crystal Palace: LLWDL

Chelsea: WWWWW

Vital information…

Kick-off time: 12.30pm

TV: Live on Sky Sports, highlights on BBC1

78 MINS

Substitutions: Moses is replaced by Ivanovic

                       Cabaye is replaced by Campbell

Joe Miles17 December 2016 14:08

81 MINS

Hazard bursts through the Palace defence and his pace proves too much for Delaney, who hacks him down outside of the box and is booked for his efforts.

Yellow card: Damien Delaney

Attempts so far: 

Crystal Palace: 5

Chelsea: 11

Joe Miles17 December 2016 14:10

84 MINS

Alonso rattles the woodwork with a free-kick from the edge of the box. It's a terrific strike, that beat Hennessey but he is denied only by the crossbar.  

Substitution: Kelly has been replaced by Fryers

Joe Miles17 December 2016 14:12

87 MINS

Palace break forward, but the cross into the box is easily dealt with by Luiz. The home side should be using their aerial threats inside of the box to chase the equaliser, but they are failing to do so. 

Joe Miles17 December 2016 14:16

90 MINS

There will be a minimum of five additional minutes.

There's still hope for Pardew's men it seems...

Joe Miles17 December 2016 14:18

90(+3) MINS

Dann is hacked down by Fabregas just outside of the penalty area. Townsend stands over the ball, but it's an anticlimactic strike that goes horribly wrong. The effort flies way over the crossbar.

Joe Miles17 December 2016 14:21

FULL TIME

CRYSTAL PALACE 0 - 1 CHELSEA

It's all over and Chelsea have managed to leave Selhurst Park nine points clear at the top of the table, thanks to a headed goal from Costa. The goal before the interval gave the visitors the advantage and The Eagles failed to find a way back despite a positive start to the second half. In true Chelsea fashion, they've won with a very narrow margin - but nonetheless, Conte and his men will be overjoyed to have continued their fine form today. 

That's 11 Premier League wins a row for Chelsea who are continuing to prove their worth at the top of the table. 

Joe Miles17 December 2016 14:26

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in