Chelsea won their second London derby on the bounce as they edged past Crystal Palace in a fiery encoutner at Selhurst Park.
Chelsea maintained their lead at the top of the league and proved their title credentials by winning a game which gave them so much difficulty last campaign.
The Blues had little difficulty in shrugging off the absense of Diego Costa who returned from international duty with an injury.
Tempers flared from the beginning as Palace made a strong start to the game, having the better of the first few minutes and forcing Courtois into some early action, but nothing to worry him too much.
An early goal for Chelsea seemed unlikely so a goal out of the blue was hardly surprising, as Oscar curled a stunning free-kick into Speroni’s top left hand corner after Willain was brought down 25 yards out.
Unsurprisingly, the goal settled The Blues down and they started to slow the game down a little after the goal game them the license to keep a few more men back and smother any dangerous Palace couter attacks.
Chelsea went close from a corner but John Terry’s header back across the goal was easily blocked on the line as both teams struggled to create anything significant.
However, the game would find a new lease of life following Azpilicueta’s dismissal for a dangerous challenge on Mile Jedinak which seemed to have swayed the game into Palace’s favour.
Cesc Fabregas was also booked for his resulting confrontation with Frazier Campbell, but Palace’s one man advantage would instantly be snatched away after Delaney saw red himself for a second yellow card.
It seemed to be a big opportunity missed for Neil Warnock’s side and the Selhurst Park crowd realised, letting their feelings known at half-time as Chelsea went in to the break a goal to the good.
The ugly events of the last few minutes of the first half somewhat masked what had been a comfortable half for the Blues, but Mourinho would have realised that a single goal would not be enough.
Chelsea went for the jugular from the start of the second half and mirrored it with the timing of their second goal, which once again came six minutes into the half.
A brilliant team goal saw Chelsea double their lead as Hazard and Fabregas combined before Oscar set the former Arsenal man up to easily finish the swift move and all but settle the points for Mourinho’s men.
The 40 minutes or so that followed lacked any significant action, but Courtois had to start awake for a couple of long range shots from Palace which caused him little trouble.
Chelsea were keeping the ball brilliantly as they aimed to see the game out, highlighted by the fact that Palace had to wait six minutes to make a substitution at one point, simply because the ball wouldn’t leave Chelsea’s grasp.
A 90th minute Frazier Campbell goal gave Palace hope of a famous revival but it wasn’t to be as Chelsea made the short trip back to the Bridge with their five point lead at the top of the table still intact.
After the game, Mourinho spoke of Chelsea’s title chances which, last season, he stressed did not exist.
Jose says the team can win the title but with the Premier League being the league it is, he cannot say they will. #CFC
— Chelsea FC (@chelseafc) October 18, 2014
He also praised Chelsea’s second goal, which certainly showed a side to this Chelsea team which we haven’t seen to often this season:
It’s a scandal, an unbelievable goal, it is amazing. This goal is the best we have scored this season.
Chelsea host Maribor in the Champions League on Tuesday nigh before travelling to Old Trafford to face Man Utd next Sunday.
Crystal Palace 1-2 Chelsea – Match Facts:
- Cesc Fabregas: 90% pass accuracy, 3 chances created, 2 tackles, 1 goal
- John Terry played his 500th game as Chelsea captain today
- Possession: 28% – 72%
- Chelsea completed 670 passes today, attempted 750
- Chelsea have never lost a Premier League game in which Oscar has scored
Source: Squawka
