CHELSEA EMERGE ON ONE COLE

Hat-trick hero Palmer wins epic as United crumble late on

AMID the sheer chaos and mayhem, this was Manchester United in a nutshell.

They were 2-0 down and looked in utter disarray before fighting back to the brink of a memorable victory at Stamford Bridge.

Then, deep into an allotted eight minutes of added time, they conceded a penalty which ice-cold Cole Palmer netted.

As if that wasn’t enough, the boyhood Manchester United fan then scored again in the 101th minute to complete one of the Premier League’s most astonishing comebacks.

“I don’t know (how Chelsea came back)!” said Palmer. “We need to try to win as many games as possible. To win like that, there is nothing better.

“We thought when we scored the second goal the fans lifted us and I saw the gaffer say there were two minutes left and thankfully I scored.

“You know I have taken many penalties, I am not going to miss a penalty, touch wood. To score on the last minute is crazy.”

The Blues were ahead after just four minutes. Malo Gusto broke down the left, his cross deflected off Raphael Varane and fell perfectly for Conor Gallagher to fire home.

Ridiculous

Gallagher celebrated wildly and looked so pumped up.

It has been one hell of a week after a ridiculous social media campaign accused him of ignoring a ball boy.

Palmer was also a target last night as the travelling support decided it was a good idea to taunt him with chants of “City reject.” He would have the last laugh, though.

That only succeeded in firing him up. After 19 minutes, Chelsea were 2-0 up. United winger Antony made a clumsy challenge on Marc Cucurella in the box and referee Jarred Gillett pointed to the spot.

Palmer stroked home the first of his spot-kicks and celebrated by putting his hand to his ear to mock the United fans.

United looked in disarray.

But the story of Chelsea’s season has been them pressing the self-destruct button and they did just that again.

Bruno Fernandes sliced the ball into the air, Antony just about kept it in and then Moises Caicedo’s horrible error presented the ball to Alejandro Garnacho, who kept his head to utter slot into the corner.

Chelsea’s confidence is so fragile that you could see their belief drain away.

United were level after 39 minutes when Diogo Dalot’s deep cross found Fernandes at the back post and he headed home.

Replacement

Gallagher hit the post, Palmer was denied by Andre Onana and then United suffered more injuries as Varane went off at half-time but his replacement, Jonny Evans, only lasted 20 minutes.

But United came back. Antony broke, his pass was sensational as he played the ball with the outside of his left foot and in darted Garnacho to head home what looked like the winner. But oh no.

Dalot fouled Noni Madueke to allow Palmer to make it 3-3 before the former Man City star crashed home a deflected effort to seal a quite remarkable win.