- Defender Joel Ward netted the winner as Crystal Palace beat Chelsea 2-1
- Chelsea failed to secure first clean sheet of Premier League title defence
- Jose Mourinho's defence were repeatedly exposed by Crystal Palace attack
- John Terry was suspended for Blues following sending off at West Brom
- The partnership of Kurt Zouma and Gary Cahill in defence was vulnerable
This
was begging for Chelsea’s defence to show Jose Mourinho why he does not
need to make a panic purchase before the transfer window shuts on
Tuesday. They did nothing of the sort.
Chelsea
were without captain John Terry who didn’t miss a single minute last
season and, at the fourth attempt, failed to secure their first clean
sheet of their Barclays Premier League title defence.
Their
back four were repeatedly exposed by a Crystal Palace attack that left
hearts in mouths whenever they surged forward, and Chelsea only have
themselves to blame.
Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma (left) challenges with Crystal Palace striker Connor Wickham for the ball
Gary Cahill returned to the Chelsea line-up to partner Zouma in central-defence for Premier League champions
This
was Mourinho’s 100th Barclays Premier League game at Stamford Bridge,
and the Chelsea manager had lost just one out of his previous 99.
Worried
that Palace would leave another black mark on his near-perfect record,
Mourinho admitted at Friday's press conference that he had been focusing
on defensive work at their Cobham training ground this week. It did no
good.
Kurt
Zouma and Gary Cahill were at the heart of Chelsea’s defence, but made
vulnerable by the gaping space in front of them where Cesc Fabregas and
Nemanja Matic were so controlling last season.
When
fit, few disagree that Terry should play. The more pressing question has
been whether he should be partner to Cahill, Zouma or a new addition,
whether that be Everton’s John Stones or Monaco’s Aymen Abdennour.
Mourinho
put Zouma to the right of the centre back pairing – a position usually
held by Cahill – and it offered much-needed protection for Branislav
Ivanovic.
Chelsea
were against an attack packed with pace – Bakary Sako, Jason Puncheon
and Wilfried Zaha were relentless behind Connor Wickham.
Captain John Terry watched from behind the dugout following his red card in last week's win at West Brom
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho watches from the touchline as his side compete with Crystal Palace
Ivanovic,
Terry’s replacement as captain, has been vulnerable and, in the 25th
minute, his ill-disciplined urge to maraud down the wing was found out
by Palace. Sako took advantage of the open space at right back and, with
Zouma closing, his low shot had to be saved by goalkeeper Thibaut
Courtois.
Just
four minutes later Yohan Cabaye should have scored. A gaping hole
between Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta was exposed, and Courtois was lucky
the former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder’s effort was directly at him.
If
anything, it only got more intense before the breakthrough. A
self-inflicted mix-up in defence here, an exposed pocket of space on the
left wing there.
England star Cahill saw a header cleared off line in second half but couldn't help his side avoid a defeat
Diego Costa reacts angrily by pushing Eagles defender Damien Delaney during their Premier League clash
Yannick
Bolasie, on as a substitute, took advantage down the left wing. He
crossed for Sako, whose initial shot was superbly blocked by
Azpilicueta, before the forward made his rebound count.
Palace’s
second was even more embarrassing for a club who prided themselves on
winning the title from the back last season. A cross by Bolasie, a cut
back by Sako, a finish by Joel Ward, and there was the winner.
Perhaps
the finger of blame can be pointed at Mourinho. Replacing Azpilicueta
with Brazilian forward Kenedy at left back, for example, can only bring
about questions for arguably the world's most famous football manager.
Yet again, dreadful defending cost Chelsea, who now find themselves eight points behind pacesetters Manchester City.
Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha had a relatively quiet game for his side and was replaced by Yannick Bolasie
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