The Eagles earned a valuable three points in their battle to avoid
an immediate return to the Championship, but their London rivals' own
end-of-season aims were handed a big blow
John Terry's own goal put a huge dent in Chelsea's title hopes as Crystal Palace boosted their survival chances with a 1-0 win on Saturday.
Hovering
precariously above the drop zone coming into the game, the victory
gives Tony Pulis' side a massive lift in their bid to avoid relegation
straight back to the Championship as they now sit 16th, five points
clear of the bottom three.
After Chelsea's resounding 6-0 win over
Arsenal last week, and Palace's last-minute defeat at Newcastle United,
many expected a routine three points for Jose Mourinho's table-toppers,
but the hosts upset the form book by recording their first league win
over their London neighbours since 1990.
Pulis' team came up
against a Chelsea outfit that had been rampant in thumping Arsenal, but
there was no sign of that ruthless attacking vigour at Selhurst Park as
the home side nullified their opponents.
Mourinho was gushing in
his praise of the Palace fans after the reverse fixture in December, and
they were in fine voice once again on Saturday, particularly when Terry
put through his own net in the 52nd minute.
Joel Ward whipped in
a cross from the left-hand side, and as the Chelsea skipper challenged
Joe Ledley, the ball glanced off his head and flew past Petr Cech.
It
was a huge setback for Mourinho's men, who missed out on the chance to
go four points clear at the top with fellow title contenders Liverpool
and Manchester City still to play this weekend.
After a quiet
opening to the game, Andre Schurrle squandered the first genuine opening
in the 18th minute, prodding the ball wide from four yards after
stretching to reach Cesar Azpilicueta's low cross at the back post.
The
hosts had a chance of their own eight minutes later, Yannick Bolasie
struggling to control a fizzing Jason Puncheon delivery before poking
his effort into the side netting.
Palace then had two penalty
shouts waved away in as many minutes as first Cameron Jerome tumbled
under a challenge from Nemanja Matic before Bolasie pleaded with referee
Lee Mason following a sliding tackle from Gary Cahill.
Terry
scored at the wrong end shortly after the interval, heading Ward's
cross beyond Cech at the near post under pressure from Ledley.
Chelsea
almost levelled immediately, Julian Speroni diving full length to his
left to keep out Eden Hazard's curling effort from the edge of the area.
As
the game became more open, Puncheon's left-foot shot went narrowly wide
of the post in the 62nd minute, before Terry nodded Oscar's free-kick
just over the crossbar 60 seconds later.
Speroni was the hero
once again 17 minutes from time, producing an incredible close-range
save from Hazard to deny the Belgian what looked a certain goal, before
Palace broke straight down the other end, only for Jerome to strike the
outside of the post.
Ledley twice went close for the hosts in the
final stages, but it mattered little as Palace held on for a surprise
win to send Selhurst Park into raptures.
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