Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace LIVE Reaction: Madeuke eases pressure on Pochettino after late penalty ensures win on final home game of 2023
Chelsea continued their dominant record over Crystal Palace to win their final home game of 2023 with a late 2-1 victory.
The Blues, who have now beaten their London rivals in their last 12 consecutive meetings, needed a late VAR-awarded penalty to return to winning ways.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side were desperate to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat to Wolves on Christmas Eve.
But when Michael Olise struck on the stroke of half-time to rule out Mykhailo Mudryk's early opener it looked like a precious win had disappeared.
Nicolas Jackson then had a minute to forget after the restart, missing a sitter before having a goal against disallowed for offside.
However, he was rescued by Noni Madueke's late penalty that helped Chelsea move back up to tenth, while Palace are now just three points above the relegation zone.
And that's it from us!
Chelsea made to work for it but ultimately prevailed to round off 2023 at Stamford Bridge on a happy note.
Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace Reaction
Chelsea manager Maurico Pochettino has now won 10 consecutive Premier League matches against Crystal Palace, while his 12 wins overall against Palace are his most against an opponent.
It was his sixth win against Roy Hodgson, only winning as many games against Eddie Howe (also six).
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Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace Reaction
Crystal Palace have conceded the first goal in 25 Premier League games in 2023, the most of any side.
In fact, the last three occasions a team has conceded first in 25+ games in a year have been the Eagles (26 in 2016, 27 in 2017 and 25 this year).
Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace Reaction
- Chelsea’s winning penalty scored by Noni Madueke was only their third winning Premier League goal via a penalty as late as the 89th minute, along with two 90th minute penalties scored by Mark Stein (February 1994 vs Spurs) and Jorginho (December 2021 vs Leeds).
- Crystal Palace are winless in their last eight Premier League matches (D3 L5), their longest run without a win under Roy Hodgson since an eight-game stretch in June and July 2020.
- Chelsea have now conceded 59 Premier League goals in 2023, their most in a calendar year in the competition and the most league goals they've shipped in a year since 1991 (68).
Madueke: 'I was confident'
Chelsea's match-winner Noni Madueke told Amazon Prime: "It was a difficult game. Credit to Crystal Palace, they played some good stuff and were difficult to breakdown. But credit to us too, we deserved it.
"It was a stonewall penalty. I scored one earlier in the cup and I was confident with my technique [in the absence of usual taker Cole Palmer].
"You want to play all the time. You want to be able to make an impact like I did today when you come off the bench."
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Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace Reaction
What a performance from Gusto - starting as a right back before switching to the left when Colwill departed.
Even grabbed himself an assist for Mudryk's opener!
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Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace Reaction
The Eagles are now winless in eight!
Palace' last longer winless streak was from January 2023 to March 2023, a run of 12 games. Worrying times for Hodgson's men!
Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace Reaction
Chelsea have scored six penalties in the Premier League in 2023-24, the joint most of any side along with Arsenal.
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Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace FULL-TIME
Chelsea claim a priceless three points on their final game at Stamford Bridge in 2023.
Madueke's late penalty proves the difference - full reaction to follow!
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Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace
97' - Franca plucks a long ball out of the sky before cutting inside and shooting but it's blocked by Silva.
It comes out to Olise who attempts to send it back into the box but his cross is overhit and out of play.
Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace
95' - Both Pochettino and Gallagher are carded after Palace are awarded a late free-kick.
However, it comes to nothing - CHELSEA ARE ALMOST THERE!
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Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace
94' - Petrovic denies Olise!
Eze looks to atone for his error with a delightful backheeled flick into the path of Olise to shoot from the edge of the box.
It's a tame effort however and well claimed by the Blues keeper.
Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace
92' - Talk about baptism of fire!
Gilchrist makes his senior debut as he replaces Badiashile and looks to help Chelsea see out the victory.
Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace
90' - Franca is on for Lerma as the board goes up!
EIGHT minutes for Chelsea to hang onto their lead here...
GOAL!! Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace - Noni Madeuke
89' - COOL AS YOU LIKE!
A stutter in the run-up sends Henderson the wrong way and he strokes it home!
Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace
88' - Madeuke won the penalty and he's the man tasked with scoring!
Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace
87' - PENALTY CHELSEA!
What an opportunity but no Palmer, Sterling, or Nkunku on the pitch - who will take?!
Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace
86' - The referee is being sent to the screen and we all know what that means!
Palace benefitted from a late penalty against Manchester City a few weeks ago but now they're set to suffer the reverse fate...
Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace
84' - Madueke is down in the box and Chelsea are screaming for a penalty - nothing given!
Palace break with four in attack but it comes to nothing.
VAR to have a look - Madueke is calling for it - he was felled by Eze as Chelsea's corner came out to him just inside the box.
Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace
82' - End-to-end stuff now as Silva sloppily concedes possession which allows Olise to draw a fine stop out of Petrovic at his near post.
Chelsea go down the other end and play in Broja who attempts a similar shot but can only cannon an effort into the side-netting.
Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace
80' - Tempers are threatening to boil over here!
Mitchell and Madueke both engage in a shoving match after tussling for a throw-in and each are shown a yellow card.
Meanwhile, Ayew comes off for Schlupp.
NO GOAL!! - Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace
78' - VAR RULES IT OUT FOR OFFSIDE!
You have to feel for Jackson...what a passage of play and still no goal!
GOAL!! Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace Nicolas Jackson
76' - HE DOESN'T MISS THIS TIME - HOW HE NEEDED THAT!
It's a brilliant deep swinging cross from Silva and Jackson shows deft technique to finish first-time inside the near post.
Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace CHANCE
74' - JACKSON MISSES A SITTER!
He's put through wonderfully by Gallagher with only the keeper to beat but somehow lifts it over him and wide.
Matterface told talkSPORT: "How on earth has he missed?"
Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace
73' - Heart in mouth moment for the Eagles as Richards bundles over Madueke from behind cynically to stop a counter.
The referee initially gets a red card out of his pocket ... but it's a mistake and he allows himself a grin as he switches it for a yellow!
