WIL DONE
It’s red wine for Hodgson and a red face for Conte as Palace bag first goal in 641 minutes and first league win of season
ROY HODGSON saw off the Blues, and then got stuck into a red to toast Crystal Palace’s first win of the season.
The former England boss saw his new Eagles side finally get off the mark with their first victory and first goals in eight games.
An own goal from Cesar Azpilicueta – Palace’s first in 641 miniutes – and one from Wilfried Zaha were enough to see off league champions Chelsea.
Hodgson said: “I don’t drink a lot – red wine isn’t the best thing if you want to keep your calories low.
“But I’ll enjoy a glass tonight because I loved watching my boys play well, and I’m proud of their performance. That was very enjoyable. I’ve said to the players that they really deserve to drink in that victory. We played the champions of England and came off the field having deserved our victory.
“We created chances, scored goals and our defending was good from the first to the last.”
Hodgson added: “On Sunday [Today] I’m off to Southampton to watch Newcastle – who we play next – so my wife, who will be with me, can’t say I never give her a day out!”
The defeat for Chelsea left their boss Antonio Conte admitting that their squad isn’t strong enough to defend their league title.
And with Victor Moses (hamstring) joining an injury list that already includes striker Alvaro Morata and midfielder N’golo Kante, he faces huge problems ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Roma.
Conte said: “When you lose two games in a row, my soul is bad tonight – it will be difficult to sleep.
“It will not be easy for me and my players to recover for the next game.
“When you start without Morata and Kante, and then lose another important player to injury, it’s a big problem. This season will be very difficult.”
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