Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
GOOD WIL HUNTING
Zaha stars, but Conte ‘deserved a draw’
ANTONIO CONTE is looking over his shoulder for the first time in months after admitting Crystal Palace’s win has made the title race interesting again.
Conte’s table-toppers took the lead after just four minutes through Cesc Fabregas.
But goals from Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke four and six minutes later were enough to earn Sam Allardyce (below) and Co three points.
Chelsea ought to have had a penalty when Andros Townsend stuck out an arm to block Pedro’s goal-bound drive in the first half.
However, referee Craig Pawson waved play on and with Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey in fine form and Mamadou Sakho a beast in front of him the home side were unable to claw their way back into the game.
This defeat means the Blues’ lead over second-placed Tottenham is now down to seven points.
And with Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday the door could well be wide open for Chelsea’s title rivals by the end of this week.
“We deserved at least to draw,” said Conte. “I don’t want to say ‘win’, but at least a draw.
“We created many chances to score, we dominated the game against a team that’s very strong with really good players and, yes, it’s a pity, but it wasn’t our day.
“For sure that makes the title race a bit more interesting. It makes it more interesting, the championship.
“But I always said the league finishes when it is mathematically sure you have won. Otherwise you must play every game to try to win because in England easy games do not exist.
“Now we have to play on Wednesday against City and we all know the strength of this team.
“But, now, the most important thing is to recover very well and rest. It’s important to prepare in the right way for this game.
“I repeat, in England there are no easy games, you could see that against Crystal Palace.
“Every game will be very tough from now until the end, if the team is City or a side fighting in the relegation zone.” Conte refused to condemn Pawson for failing to award his side a stonewall penalty. He added: “At the moment, honestly, I didn’t see it.
“It’s very difficult to see this situation.
“For sure, something was there, but it’s right also to accept the decision of the referee. We hope in the future that the decisions are better.”
Palace boss Allardyce (below), whose side have won their last four Premier League games, was understandably delighted.
He said: “That shocked you all, didn’t it? You have a plan and you stick with that in the hope you nullify Chelsea, and then we went a goal down after four minutes.
“But instead of their heads going down, which is what I saw when I first arrived, I saw a massive response.
“There was determination and will to get back into the game. The two goals we scored put Chelsea in shock.
“Their resilience and some of the saves from the goalkeeper were the reason we won it in the end, even if we spurned a couple of really good chances.
“Holding out here to win 2-1 is an outstanding victory. An outstanding performance. Nobody expected it.”
While Palace defended heroically, Zaha and Benteke worked tirelessly up front as well – and Zaha in particular received praise from his boss.
Allardyce added: “Wilf must feel really good about himself.
“It’s about consistent performances at the moment. There’s a man on the other side, an outstanding individual like Wilf, in Eden Hazard.
“His ability is something Wilf could look at and try to match.
“Wilf is already realising his potential with the way he’s playing. Potential is becoming a reality.”