Independent:
Jose Mourinho's side stunned despite Radamel Falcao goal, Sako and Ward on target for Palace
Chelsea 1 Crystal Palace 2
Michael Calvin
They did not need the donation of Patrick Bamford’s services for the day, denied by one of those loan deals weighted to give Chelsea the sort of marginal advantage rich clubs expect. They have a manager, in Alan Pardew, who has the measure of Jose Mourinho.
Their post-match embrace was revealingly warm, and radiated professional respect. Victory, only the second by a visiting team in 100 League games at Stamford Bridge under Mourinho, was richly deserved and a resonant statement of intent.
Much will be made of the eight-point gap which already separates the champions from Manchester City. Volumes will be read into their lack of purpose, and their pallid start to a season already littered with avoidable problems.
But let’s dwell on Palace, for a moment. They deserve their prominence. Reward for their resilience in regaining the lead almost immediately through Joel Ward, once Radamel Falcao had equalised Bakary Sako’s opening goal, conformed to a hugely impressive yet easily overlooked pattern.
Palace have won eight of their 10 away matches in the Premier League under Pardew, who detected, from midweek, that his gameplan was underpinned by something less tangible but infinitely powerful, a unifying perception of belief.
Sako is a free transfer signing of immense physical presence and unrealised ambition. “We sensed he was a Crystal Palace type, and he has proved us right,” Pardew reflected. “He has got a great pass and threatens the goal. We didn’t do that from wide areas last season.”
Their defence, based upon the yeoman qualities of old-fashioned centre-halves, Scott Dann and Damien Delaney, is outstanding. “It wasn’t a sit-in, 11-men behind the ball game,” Delaney reasoned. “That was full throttle for 90 minutes.”
Palace’s threat from wide areas intensified with the introduction of Yannick Bolasie, who returned from compassionate leave, following the death of his father, as a second-half substitute. Jason Puncheon’s previously unremarked quality is generating suggestions he could force his way into the England squad.
No team has won more points than Palace away from home in 2015, 25, but statistical circumstance – this was also Mourinho’s 200th game in charge in the Premier League – was of marginal relevance. As Pardew said: “ It was one of the best performances I’ve seen in terms of composure.”
Chelsea’s staccato season is tinged with rancour and unease. Their defence lacks authority without John Terry, who became a better player as he sat, resplendent in brown cashmere, at the back of the technical area. They have not kept a clean sheet for seven League games.
Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic, symbols of last season’s title win, are struggling to wield even a modicum of influence in front of the back four. Diego Costa’s perpetual audition for a part in the next Mad Max movie perversely highlights the lack of bite in attack.
The next three days will test the credibility of Mourinho’s insistence he has no intention of suddenly accelerating his recruitment plans. “I am not going to say I want this, this and that,” he argued. “I am not going to try this, this and that. We – me and the players – have to do better.”
Mourinho’s frustration with his team’s lack of drive and intensity cannot be purged immediately since he admitted the international break will leave him “working with four players” for the next fortnight.
Palace should have taken the lead in the 28th minute. Wilfried Zaha’s brilliant turn, steeply angled run and composed pass into the path of Yohan Cabaye, whose shot lacked power and conviction, allowing the Chelsea goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, to throw himself to his left to save. They did so in the 65th minute, when Branislav Ivanovic was exposed by Pape Souaré’s surge, and calm pass into the path of Bolasie. He found Sako, who required no further invitation to thump it past Courtois with a left foot shot.
Chelsea equalised 14 minutes later when a 17-pass move ended with Pedro delivering a superb low cross from the right. Falcao got in front of Delaney to head inside Alex McCarthy’s near post, but within two minutes the game was decided.
Bolasie stood up another cross. Sako, unmarked at the far post, turned it back to Ward, who scored with a full-length header. “That’s why you’re going down,” chirruped the travelling fans who had the boisterous innocence of a bunch of eight-year-olds let loose on a bouncy castle.
“They always like that?” asked Mourinho. “ Yeah,” replied Pardew. Let’s face it, they’ve got a lot to shout about.
Chelsea: (4-2-3-1) Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Cahill, Azpilicueta (Kenedy, 68); Fabregas, Matic (Loftus-Cheek, 73); Pedro, Willian (Falcao, 66), Hazard; Costa
Crystal Palace: (4-2-3-1) McCarthy; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souaré; McArthur, Cabaye (Ledley, 82); Zaha (Bolasie, 55), Puncheon, Sako (Lee, 83); Wickham.
Referee: Craig Pawson
Man of the match: Sako (Crystal Palace)
Match rating: 6/10
Att: 41,581
=======================
Guardian:
Chelsea humbled at home after Sako and Ward strike for Crystal Palace
Barney Ronay
This was a surprise result in more ways than one. More often than not a defeat for the Premier League champions at home to one of the division’s middleweights tends to go a certain way: a chance taken on the break, a defensive rearguard, a little luck. Here though Crystal Palace were victors entirely on merit, a composed, skilful, physically dominant visiting team who executed their game plan – pressing Chelsea in the centre, outrunning them on the flanks – to perfection in a well deserved victory. It will be tempting to riff on the poverty of Chelsea’s performance, and they were undoubtedly both uninspired and tentative. But Palace’s strength is a story in itself, further evidence of the levelling out of the division, and the Premier League’s finest point, its shared competitive edge. On this form these particular champions are likely to struggle a few more times this season.
Chelsea did look to have saved a point with a 79th minute equalising goal via Radamel Falcao’s diving header that was both brilliantly executed and entirely out of keeping with their performance up to that point. That Palace should still end up inflicting a second defeat in four matches for the champions thanks to Joel Ward’s winning goal, stabbed in after more good work by Bakary Sako, was both fair reward and a fair reflection of the poverty of Chelsea’s performance at a muggy, uncomfortably close Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea started the day in 10th place and with a sense of having spent the early weeks of the season crunching around in the high gears. Defeat here is hardly disastrous, but the nature of the performance from a Chelsea team lacking not just leadership, but energy and precision in too many positions will trouble José Mourinho. After the final whistle here Chelsea’s manager made a point of refusing to concede the Premier League title. Which, given that it’s still August, perhaps tells its own story.
Palace were excellent however, a team of muscular, pacey ball-players, well-drilled in deep defence and brisk in their counterattacks down both flanks. Jason Puncheon is a lovely, careful passer of the ball and here he out-Cesc’ed Chelsea’s own midfield creator for long periods of the game, strolling about to great effect in his central playmaker role.
For Chelsea Kurt Zouma, as expected, filled the hole left by John Terry’s suspension and Pedro started his first home match on the opposite flank to Eden Hazard with Willian deployed as one of elite level football’s more blue collar No10s, a source of hustle and pressure but little in the way of poise and vision.
For Palace Yannick Bolasie returned to the bench, with Connor Wickham starting up front and Sako, Wilfried Zaha and Puncheon interchanging fluidly behind. They started well, forcing a series of corners on the left and harrying Chelsea in possession. Wickham and Sako may not go down in history as one of the great goalscoring duos, but they could undoubtedly moonlight successfully in the piano lifting trade.
With 18 minutes gone Pedro cut inside and curled a shot just wide of the far corner, almost but not quite Chelsea’s first effort on target. Otherwise Chelsea simply dithered harmlessly. The need for muscle, bark, and sergeant-majorly instruction is often a little overstated in English football. On the other hand, all the best teams have dominant personalities in key positions and here a Chelsea side without a single vertebrae from that famous 10-year spine of Cech-Terry-Lampard-Drogba seemed to lack something in the way of bite and leadership. Hazard did his best to create a spark among the kindling. Diego Costa did his best to pick a fight. But this was still a mannered, polite, neat, unimposing Chelsea in a goalless first half.
After the break Costa tried to rouse the champions, at one point picking up the ball in the centre circle and charging past Scott Dann before laying the ball off to Hazard, who shot wide. But it was Palace who took the lead on 64 minutes with the goal they had been threatening to score all game. It came from the left flank, Pape Souaré playing a sharp pass to Bolasie, just on the pitch for Zaha. His low cross was allowed to travel all the way across the Chelsea area to Sako, who had time to set himself and slot the ball past Thibaut Courtois at the second attempt.
Bolasie might have added a second on 73 minutes, ballooning a bobbling ball over from five yards after Sako had seized on another loose moment in the Chelsea defence, as again their midfield had begun to sag a little, offering some great wide open spaces when Palace attacked. Nemanja Matic has been criticised for a tailing off in his form, and it has been a while since he resembled the telescopically dominating presence of the first half of last season.
But his declining influence mirrors that of Cesc Fàbregas. There are only so many times a single willing Serb can be asked to police single-handedly the space both in front of and behind his back four. Here again Matic could be seen frantically gumming up leaks and holes, whirling about to cover two or three breaking attackers while Fàbregas chugged back in his general direction.
Chelsea roused themselves to equalise through Falcao after an excellent cross by Pedro from the right. But this always looked likely to be Palace’s afternoon against champions who now find themselves eight points behind City, and five behind the visitors in second place.
==========================
Telegraph:
Chelsea 1 Crystal Palace 2
Visitors spoil Jose Mourinho's 100th home league game
Jim White
This was not the way Jose Mourinho sought to mark his 100th league game at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea may have made a stuttering start to the season, may have looked thus far a thin, underpowered ghost of the side that stormed to the title last term but, even so, no one of a blue persuasion expected this.
To lose at the Bridge is a departure from the script the manager has followed for his entire career: always win your home games.
No one could deny Palace deserved their win – only the second inflicted in the Premier League during Mourinho’s tenure. Goals from Bacary Sako and Joel Ward, which sandwiched a header from Radamel Falcao for the home side, were the legitimate return for a spirited determined, intelligent performance. It was a victory, moreover, which exposed glaring faults at the heart of Mourinho’s Chelsea.
“There was kind of belief in us, I sensed it in the dressing room,” Alan Pardew, the Palace manager, said. “The stadium was expecting Chelsea to win and most times they do. So to overcome the power of that team takes a considerable effort. This team is better than last year, we’ve got better technical players.”
No one was more aware of that than Mourinho. He had talked before the season started about the changing balance of the Premier League, how the mid-table sides would use the financial muscle available from the new television deal to improve and thus disrupt the ambitions of those at the top. He spoke in awed tones about Palace’s summer recruitment.
In his programme notes, he continued his admiration. “Palace,” he wrote, “are a club I respect a lot with great fans and a fine history.”
The visiting supporters were quick to pick up on his enthusiasm, mischievously chanting “Jose is a Palace fan” in his direction.
Mourinho’s observation was reinforced by what soon began to unfold. Palace were neatly organised, their muscular back four strong in the tackle, Wilfried Zaha and Jason Puncheon endlessly intelligent in their delivery. There was nothing cowed or nervous about their attitude. They presented Chelsea with a much tougher examination than they will face from Maccabi Tel Aviv or Dynamo Kiev, for instance, in their forthcoming Champions League campaign.
Palace opened as they meant to go on. They forced three corners in the first six minutes. Nothing came of them, but they were a warning of the danger lurking. A danger exemplified when Zaha shimmied his way past the hapless, hopeless, helpless Branislav Ivanovic and – drawing the entire Chelsea defence over towards him – laid the ball perfectly to an unnoticed, unmarked Yohan Cabaye. But the Frenchman guided the ball tamely into Tibault Courtois’s midriff.
Chelsea - lacking the leadership and organisation of John Terry, with the way off-kilter Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas unable to match Palace’s midfield industry - struggled to break the visitors down. Pedro was neat and tricksy, Willian sharp in the pass, but drive and urgency were absent for much of the opening 45 minutes. And when a bit of verve did appear after the break, the Palace defence threw themselves into every challenge, fearless of the consequence. Behind them, Alex McCarthy made a fine double stop, first diving to his right to get his hand to Diego Costa’s drive, then producing an even better save to deny Fabregas’s drilled parry off the rebound.
Pardew’s instruction to his team was to be brave, to remain on the front foot, to take the challenge to the home side. There was no bus parked across the Bridge halfway line. For every attack Chelsea summed up, Palace responded in kind, breaking quickly and with purpose. Connor Wickham should have done better after Bacary Sako twisted past Ivanovic – again - to present him with a tempting chance. Moments later, Sako decided to miss out the middle man and went for goal himself.
Pardew, sensing he might have an opportunity to return to south London with more than a single point as reward for his team’s enterprise, brought on Yannick Bolassie. Returning from compassionate leave following the death of his father, the Congo international made immediate difference. On the 64th minute, he scooted down the right to collect Pape Soare’s through ball, then crossed to Sako, whose first attempt was blocked by a sliding Cesar Azpilicueta. But the ball bounced back to the Palace man and he shot high into the net past.
Mourinho responded with a flurry of substitutions. And one of them appeared for a moment to have reversed the momentum. In the 79th minute Falcao met Pedro’s cross with a sweet diving header for a goal made in Louis van Gaal’s out-tray.
But parity was but temporary. Palace were not to be diverted. Moments later, Bolassie belted forward again and crossed into the floundering heart of the Chelsea defence. Sako knocked the ball back and Ward scooped the ball home. Pardew was mobbed by his celebrating bench. And his sense of achievement was completed when his players managed to scramble away every one of Chelsea’s desperate attempts to recover. “As Crystal Palace manager that was my best result,” he said afterwards.
Mourinho, recognising the significance of the win, was no less effusive in his congratulation, slapping his opposite number repeatedly on the back. He knows he will need to be as vigorous when his players return from the international break. He urgently needs to shake some life back into his team’s rapidly faltering title defence.
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Mail:
Chelsea 1-2 Crystal Palace: Joel Ward nets winner just two minutes after Radamel Falcao had scored first goal as Jose Mourinho suffers second defeat in 100 home Premier League games
By Oliver Holt
The internet was awash with advice and mock sympathy for Jose Mourinho on Saturday night. His thwarted quest for a centre-back and his club’s unexpected re-acquaintance with ordinariness were both the subjects of enough mirth to fuel the Chelsea manager’s conspiracy theories for months to come.
Everton fans, still glorying in their club’s rejection of Chelsea’s overtures to John Stones, said it was such a pity that Mourinho had missed out on Jonny Evans. Liverpool fans, fresh from their loss to West Ham, were quick to offer him Dejan Lovren. West Brom supporters chastised him for being beaten to the punch by Aston Villa for Joleon Lescott.
Everybody likes it when a big club fail to get their own way. Everybody likes it when money fails to talk. And everybody likes it when the champions show a little fallibility. Chelsea have four points from their first four games and are already eight points behind Manchester City. ‘In another league, I would say “game over”,’ Mourinho said.
It was scant consolation but in this ignominious home defeat by Crystal Palace on Saturday, his team, obedient to the last, had at least provided irrefutable proof of why Mourinho was so desperate to sign Stones.
Chelsea’s defence, which has conceded nine goals in four games, was ripped to pieces by a man-of-the-match performance by Bakary Sako, a close-season free transfer from Wolves. There were times in the second half when they were reduced to a rabble.
Before Saturday, Mourinho had lost only one of his 99 league games at the Bridge. Now it is two out of 100. On this showing, he will be desperate to draft his suspended captain, John Terry, back into his team after the international break.
Then again, he may decide that desperate times require desperate remedies. Chelsea need to strengthen their back four, although on Saturday the most glaring problems appeared at full-back, where Branislav Ivanovic, once again, looked horribly vulnerable.
Mourinho said he was angry with himself for allowing one of his players to stay on the pitch for 90 minutes because he had played so badly. He said the player in question only survived because he had already used his three substitutes. He would not name names but the smart money was on Ivanovic.
If Chelsea really have given up on Stones, they need to look elsewhere. Quickly. Mourinho suggested that was unlikely and that he was happy with the central defensive performances of Kurt Zouma and Gary Cahill. But the back four’s defending for Palace’s second goal, in particular, was shambolic.
Stones, playing for Everton in north London on Saturday, rather than for Chelsea in west London, dominated the day even though he was not here. Chelsea found themselves under attack even before the game started. Everton boss Roberto Martinez criticised their pursuit of Stones and said that Everton stood for ‘more important values’.
For many, it is a source of encouragement that a less affluent club like Everton have resisted Chelsea’s attempts to buy the central defender and have, in their own way, stood up to the might of the Premier League’s fabulously rich.
At the same time, it is hard to see why Chelsea are being vilified for trying to sign a player they think will strengthen their team. Transfers happen. Players move up the food chain. Everton plucked Stones from Barnsley two years ago, now Chelsea are trying to buy him from them.
There is certainly no need for Everton fans to make Stones fear for his safety. Chelsea made three bids for him, as is their right. Everton turned them down, as is their right. End of story.
When the game began, Chelsea took their time to mount an attack of their own. It was the 20th minute before Pedro cut in from the right and whipped in a curling left-foot shot that whistled just wide.
Now, suddenly, the game erupted. Diego Costa was singled out for rough treatment by Scott Dann and, as is his custom, responded in kind. After Costa was bundled over by the touchline, Mourinho berated the fourth official for his inaction.
Zouma had a penalty appeal turned down when it appeared his shirt had been pulled as he leapt for a corner but Palace reminded their hosts that they posed a danger, too, when Thibaut Courtois had to save a fierce shot by Sako with his legs.
Chelsea’s problems are not just in defence. They are also lacking creativity and it was Palace who fashioned the best chance of the half when Wilfried Zaha turned beautifully past Nemanja Matic and rolled the ball into the path of Yohan Cabaye. He should have scored but he shot too close to Courtois and too tamely. It was a simple save for the Belgian keeper and a let-off for Mourinho and his team.
They finally posed a threat a few minutes before half-time when Costa lashed in a cross-shot that Alex McCarthy could only push back out. Cesc Fabregas was waiting to meet it and struck the follow-up cleanly but McCarthy was equal to it. He scrambled across his goal and blocked the ball with his right hand before it was hacked away.
Palace emerged the stronger after the break. Capitalising on the continuing uncertainty of Ivanovic, Sako waltzed past him and cut back a cross that Connor Wickham miskicked.
Palace manager Alan Pardew had pulled on an overcoat at half-time but now, midway through the half, the game began to heat up and after Sako had headed off the line from Cahill, he went up to the other end and put Palace ahead.
Pape Souare played the ball down the line to substitute Yannick Bolasie, who cut the ball back into the path of Sako. His first effort was blocked by Cesar Azpilicueta but it fell kindly to him and he slotted it home, high past Courtois. Pardew took his coat off again and rolled up his sleeves.
Palace should have gone further ahead when the rampaging Sako delivered a perfect cross into the path of Bolasie, but he sliced his shot high and wide.
Chelsea seized on their reprieve and forced an equaliser in the 79th minutes. Pedro curled in a beautiful cross from the right, hit with pace and precision, and substitute Radamel Falcao flung himself at it at the near post, guiding it past McCarthy.
A few seconds later, Bolasie made amends for his earlier miss when he picked out Sako unmarked at the back post. Sako turned the ball back into the path of Joel Ward, who swept it into the net. The Palace fans erupted in disbelieving joy, the Chelsea fans yelled out their dismay.
Mourinho suggested after the game that it was too late to strengthen his team now. A hint of irritation crept into his voice when he said he had submitted his plans for the new season last April and that now it was the end of August.
He suggested Chelsea would have to fight with what they have got. Their plight is unlikely to elicit anything other than another barrage of that mock sympathy.
Chelsea: Courtois 6; Ivanovic 4, Zouma 6, Cahill 5, Azpilicueta 4(Kenedy 6); Fabregas 5, Matic 5(Loftus Cheek 5); Pedro 7, Hazard 6, Willian 6(Falcao 6); Diego Costa 5
Subs not used: Begovic, Baba, Mikel, Remy
Booked: Cahill
Goal: Falcao 79
Crystal Palace: McCarthy 7; Ward 7, Dann 7, Delaney 7, Souare 6; Puncheon 7, Cabaye 6, McArthur 6, Zaha 5(Bolasie 7); Wickham 5, Sako 8
Subs: Mariappa, Hennessey, Gayle, Mutc
Booked: Cabaye
Goals: Sako 65, Ward 81
=========================
Mirror:
Chelsea 1-2 Crystal Palace: 5 things we learnt as visitors' shock win leaves Jose Mourinho feeling blue
BY DARREN LEWIS
Jose Mourinho had the celebrations for his 100th Premier League home game trashed by Palace who pulled off a shock win.
The Blues had lost just once in their previous 99 encounters under the Special One.
But Bakary Sako put Alan Pardew’s side ahead on 65 minutes and although Falcao stepped off the bench to level with 11 minutes left, Joel Ward clinched the points two minutes later.
Chelsea have now won just one of their first four games of the season and Mourinho looks certain to plunge into the transfer market over the remaining few days of the window.
1. Chelsea need reinforcements. Fast.
It isn’t that they aren’t already a top side. They won the title easing up last season and they actually didn’t play that badly today. But they need more quality, more competition for places to inspire some of the established stars in the same way that Manchester City have following their summer recruitment drive.
2. This could have been worse
Thibaut Courtois saved magnificently from Bakary Sakho and Yohan Cabaye - who looked for all the world certain to score - in the first half. Yannick Bolasie also missed a sitter in the second.
3. Falcao is back.
A small crumb of comfort and it was just one goal. But it came with his team up against it and the Colombian showed that class really is permanent. His near-post finish from Pedro’s cross showed that there is still a player there for Chelsea that may yet emerge during his loan spell.
4. It’s time to start giving Alan Pardew some credit.
He was hounded out of Newcastle but this win was was no fluke. He is doing a super job at Selhurst Park
Last season the Eagles managed to win seven of their nine games away from home in the League under Alan Pardew.
No team has won more points than Palace away from home in the Premier League in 2015 (22 - level with Chelsea and Arsenal).
After Falcao had drawn Chelsea level you could be forgiven for expecting the Champions to go on and win this match. Not so under Pardew’s resilient side.
5. It is easy to see why Palace wanted keeper Alex McCarthy from QPR.
He pulled off fine saves from Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas and did magnificently to keep the south Londoners in this contest.
Player ratings by Dean Jones
Chelsea: Courtois 6, Ivanovic 5, Zouma 5, Cahill 5, Azpilicueta 6 (Kenedy, 68, 7), Fabregas 5, Matic 5 (Loftus-Cheek 73, 6), Hazard 5, Pedro 6, Willian 5 (Falcao 67, 7), Costa 6.
Subs: Begovic, Rahman, Mikel, Remy
Crystal Palace: McCarthy 7, Ward 7, Dann 7, Delaney 7, Souare 7, Cabaye 7 (Ledley 82), McArthur 7, Zaha 6 (Bolasie 55, 7), Puncheon 7, Sako 8 (Lee 84), Wickham 7.
Subs: Hennessey, Mariappa, Gayle, Mutch
Ref: C Pawson; Straight forward day. No game-changing decisions to make
Man of the match: Bakary Sako
=====================
Express:
Chelsea 1 - Crystal Palace 2: Sako shines as Mourinho suffers rare home defeat
Colin Mafham
the birth of a new star in Bakary Sako.
After seeing his side send Mourinho's champions sliding on skid row, Pardew said: "I sensed in the thre dressing room this week that there was a belief we could win here today. And as Crystal Palace manager this was the best performance for me.
"We looked a very good team today and if we can steer clear of injuries we could have a good season.
"To overcome the power of a team like Chelsea here takes some doing - but we did it. We were resilient and showed a great attitude throughout.
On man of the match Sako he said: "he has been a real boost for us. We always sensed he was a Crystal Palace sort of player - and so he's proved.
"We would not have won here today or beaten Villa last week if it hadn't been for him asnd he gives us that bit extra coming in from the flanks."
Pardew was also full of praise for reformed midfielder Jason Puncheon and banged the England drum for him, adding: "If Roy Hodgson sees this game and sees the way Punch is playing it might give him something to think about before he names his England squad."
Pardew's delight was in stark contrast to beaten Mourinho's mood.
Mourinho said: "The reality is that we have had a bad start: four points in four matches is a very bad start.
"We have eight points less than the leader and seven and six and five from others. In another league I would say game over, but the Premier League I don't say game over because last season we had seven points to the second and in one month we lost the seven points.
'I'm not happy because for me a performance is a collective performance, of 11 players at the same time.
To perform collectively you need individual performances. When you have these kind of matches at this level you need people to perform. I cannot say I had 11 players at the same time performing.
Two or three of them their individual performance was far from good.
I blame myself for not changing one of them. When I made the third change I needed a fourth."
Mourinho did have his usual moan, however, this time at refere Craig Pawdon for denying Chelsea a first half penalty when Connor Wickhamm appeared to pull Zouma over in the box.
He said: "The referee did a big mistake. Clear penalty with the result 0-0 and obviously with influence in the result."
But after insisting that he would not be rushing out to buy players before the transfer window shuts on Tuesday, he added: The "My first thought is to Palace. They come with everything. The team was ready, the players were ready, the fans were ready.
"They came with a fantastic spirit. They were lucky but they deserves the luck."
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Star:
Chelsea 1 Crystal Palace 2: Pressure builds on Jose Mourinho as the Blues lose again
Colin Mafham
Chelsea are now eight points behind Manchester City and if this is anything to go by they don’t have a hope in hell of catching them.
Yesterday they were turned over by an inspired Palace side and free-transfer hero Bakary Sako who scored the Eagles’ first and set up their second.
Credit where credit’s due, though. Palace were never in awe of the champions.
And if it hadn’t been for Thibaut Courtois’ legs keeping out a Yohan Cabaye effort they would have been in front just before the half hour.
To be fair the visitors twice had Alex McCarthy to thank for keeping Chelsea at bay when Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic all threatened to break the deadlock in a first-half that had more huff and puff than quality.
There was good reason to expect better after the break – particularly from Chelsea and the improvement came at both ends of the pitch.
Costa and the impressive Willian both had a go at putting the frighteners on Palace while Sako was an increasing menace at the other end.
Not surprisingly it was the Mali international who fired Palace in front after 65 minutes, a just reward for persistence and a constant devotion to the Palace cause.
Substitute Yannick Bolasie, putting the heartbreak of his father’s death last week behind him, set up Sako for an attempt that was at first saved,But the former Wolves man – who quit Molineux because he wanted to play in the Premier League – was there to have a second go and this time made it count from close range.
Not bad for a free-transfer.
Desperate times call for desperate measures – and Mourinho was looking increasingly desperate.
He made three quick substitutions, even pulling off Willian – who had looked his best player up until then – to get more firepower from Radamel Falcao.
Fortunately for Chelsea they only had to wait 13 minutes for him to provide it with an equaliser that brought a huge sigh of relief on the Stamford Bridge bench, never mind in the stands.
It didn’t last long, though. Man of the match Sako saw to that.
He got on the end of another Bolasie cross to set up Joel Ward whose header had the beating of Courtois to send the Palace faithful behind his goal into raptures.
And after seeing his side give the champions a pasting, Palace boss Alan Pardew said: “There was a belief we could win here and this has to be the best performance for me as Crystal Palace manager.
“We looked a very good team. To overcome the power of a side like Chelsea here takes some doing.
“Sako has been a real boost for us. We would not have won here today or beaten Villa last week if it wasn’t for him.”
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