Chelsea’s winless run continues as Crystal Palace punish missed chances
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Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea: Cole Palmer had given the Blues the lead but Jean-Philippe Mateta’s equaliser means it is now four games without a win. Jean-Philippe Mateta salvaged a late point for Crystal Palace as Chelsea’s winless streak in the Premier League extended to four contests with a 1-1 draw.
![[Palace continued to show improved form]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/04/16/GettyImages-2192403296.jpg)
Cole Palmer’s 13th goal of the season opened the scoring at Selhurst Park, where the visitors dominated in the first half. They were unable to find the finishing touch on a number of chances, however, and came to regret it when the Frenchman levelled in the 82nd minute.
![[Cole Palmer had put Chelsea ahead (Bradley Collyer/PA)]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/04/17/304a49b56afa06bc4409c160235b8ea6Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM2MDk3MDcw-2.78611893.jpg)
Once-relegation-threatened Palace have now picked up 14 points from their last 10 top-flight contests. Enzo Maresca made six changes from Chelsea’s Ipswich defeat, including a full Premier League debut for the impressive 18-year-old Josh Acheampong. Palace captain Marc Guehi was back in Oliver Glasner’s line-up after serving a one-game suspension, while Cheick Doucoure started in place of the injured Will Hughes.
Chelsea ventured deep in Palace territory early, Jadon Sancho volleying over from a cross, while a big tackle by Chris Richards broke up the run of Nicolas Jackson. But the American defender found himself in trouble soon after, outsmarted by Sancho, who drove down the left and cut in, slipping the ball to Palmer, who slotted through the legs of Guehi for the 14th-minute opener.
Chelsea nearly scored again soon after, but Jackson’s volleyed attempt from a flicked-on free kick was well wide. What few spells Palace did enjoy in Chelsea’s final third by the halfway point in the period were stubbornly thwarted, and they were lucky when Pedro Neto could not connect with Palmer’s outstretched foot after deftly working his way to the edge of the the six-yard box.
