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Crystal Palace logo
Premier League | Gameweek 24
Feb 12, 2024 at 8pm UK
Selhurst Park
Chelsea logo

Crystal Palace
1 - 3
Chelsea

Lerma (30')
Lerma (70'), Munoz (80')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Gallagher (47', 90+1'), Fernandez (90+4')
Jackson (90+4'), Disasi (90+2')

Mauricio Pochettino delighted with Chelsea win over Crystal Palace after 'flat' start

Pochettino delighted with Chelsea win after 'flat' start
© Reuters
Mauricio Pochettino admits that he was relieved with Chelsea's positive response to producing a first half that was "so flat" in the 3-1 win at Crystal Palace.

Mauricio Pochettino has acknowledged that he was delighted with Chelsea's second-half response in the 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Monday night.

In sharp contrast to their efforts in seeing off Aston Villa by the same scoreline in the FA Cup five days earlier, the Blues barely laid a glove on Palace during the first 45 minutes at Selhurst Park.

Chelsea deservedly found themselves behind at the break due to Jefferson Lerma's thunderous strike from distance, but Conor Gallagher brought the visitors level within two minutes of the restart.

Although Chelsea were much improved for the remainder of the contest, it appeared to be heading towards a draw before former Palace loanee Gallagher completed the turnaround in the first minute of stoppage time.

Maximum points were sealed later in four minutes of added-on time, Cole Palmer leading a counter-attack and teeing up Enzo Fernandez to confidently convert into the top corner from eight yards to secure Chelsea's 13th successive Premier League win over Palace.

Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates on February 12, 2024© Reuters

Having ended a two-match losing run in the top flight, Chelsea are back up to 10th position in the standings, just two points adrift of Newcastle United in seventh.

Speaking to BBC Sport after the game, Pochettino admitted that he left disappointed with how Chelsea failed to make any impact in the final third during the first half, yet praised his side for how they responded.

The Argentine said: "We saw two different sides. In the first half we were so flat and I was so disappointed. In the second half much better and I am very pleased with how we finished the game. We deserved the three points.

"The energy wasn't the right energy and the intensity we showed was not great. We dominated but we played so slowly and they way we conceded, we cannot allow to give this type of option to the opponent.

"It is a massive win. That is our challenge to be consistent but this type of fixture will help us build our confidence."

Next up for Chelsea is a trip to play Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening before they begin preparations for the EFL Cup against Liverpool on February 25.

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Darren Plant
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Draw
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Chelsea
71.1%
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Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez celebrates scoring their third goal on December 3, 2023
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2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
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