Five things we learned from Crystal Palace's stunning upset victory over Premier League champions Chelsea
Crystal Palace look a different team with Wilfried Zaha back in the starting XI, Chelsea just aren't the same without N'Golo Kante and Roy Hodgson finally has his players working hard
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Crystal Palace scored their first Premier League goal of the season in a 2-1 win against Chelsea.
Yohan Cabaye met Andros Townsend’s low cross and his shot deflected off Cesar Azpilicueta into the net, not that the Palace fans cared.
Their delirium was short lived as dreadful marking from a corner gifted Tiemoue Bakayoko a free header and he made it 1-1.
Zaha, who played his first game since the opening day loss to Huddersfield, gave Palace the lead for a second time with a tricky run and a cool finish just before half time.
Here are five things we learned:
Zaha can kick-start Palace’s season
A large part of Crystal Palace’s woeful early season form was down to Wilfried Zaha’s injury in the first game which ruled him out of the next six games.
In Christian Benteke, and a reserve striker’s absence, Zaha started as a central striker and was instrumental in all of Palace’s good play.
His endeavour was rewarded late in the second half when he put Palace ahead and became the first Crystal Palace to score in the Premier League.
Chelsea are vulnerable without Kante
In a team which was without Alvaro Morata, Chelsea really missed the tenacity of N’Golo Kante in the midfield.
Cesc Fabregas and Tiemoue Bakayoko patrolled the middle of the park but did little to prevent Palace’s surges on the break where Kante may have done more.
Hodgson finally has the players working hard
Under Frank de Boer and some of Roy Hodgson’s first games with the side, the Crystal Palace players could be rightly accused of performing well below par.
Roy Hodgson has been in charge of Palace for just over a month and appears to have reinstalled confidence in the players who were getting forward quicker and working harder to close down Chelsea to regain possession.
Conte’s squad depth is going to be tested
With Alvaro Morta and N’Golo Kante already occupying space on Chelsea’s injury list, another injury to a first team player will be the last thing Antonio Conte wanted.
In the first half, Victor Moses was appeared to be clutching his right hamstring and was forced off. Davide Zappacosta came on in his place and gave a good account for himself, but Conte will hope for good news on the extent of Moses’ lay off.
Chelsea need their big players to turn up
Sorry Chelsea fans but it just was not your day. While the Blues had more shots on target and plenty of possession, Palace did look comfortable defending their lead in the second half.
Eden Hazard, Willian and Cesc Fabregas who are all usually so creative, were largely spectators in South London.
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