Gallagher’s a SUB STORY AS CONOR BREAKS Late grate HIS OLD PALS’ HEARTS
GRAHAM POTTER’S Chelsea reign is up and running after he produced a bit of managerial magic.
This trip to South London was heading for a stalemate before the new Blues boss threw on Conor Gallagher and Christian Pulisic in the latter stages – to devastating effect.
With seconds remaining Gallagher, fed by his fellow sub, curled an absolute beauty into the top corner to hand Potter his first win.
And what a cruel way to repay the Crystal Palace fans who had generously applauded last season’s loan hero Gallagher at the start and continued to do so even after he wrecked their afternoon.
The England ace refused to celebrate his decisive strike but Potter had nothing but praise for his match-winning combo.
He said: “I’m delighted for
Conor and Christian – and the team.
“They both gave a good response to being left
out and it was a fantastic strike by Conor.
“It’s nice to get the first win under the belt. We’re off to a decent start but we have a long way to go.”
Chelsea needed their new hitman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to haul them back into the contest with a fine effort after Odsonne Edouard gave Palace an early lead.
But between those strikes, the momentum was completely changed by a controversial VAR review that saw Chelsea defender Thiago Silva escape a red card for a cynical 34th-minute handball that halted Jordan Ayew as he was through on goal.
Stockley Park stuck with the original yellow shown to the Brazilian – a call that left Eagles boss Patrick Vieira fuming.
The Frenchman, booked for dissent, said: “I find it confusing. I believe the ref got it wrong.
“It’s tough because we did enough to get the points. Conor’s goal was a good but we should not have given him the room.”
Potter (right) said: “It was a fifty-fifty that we came out on the right side of. I can understand Patrick’s frustration.”
Palace scored with their first attack in
the seventh minute as Wesley Fofana gave possession away to Edouard, who fed Ayew and then outpaced the Chelsea culprit to meet a brilliant return cross, firing into the far corner first time.
Chelsea wasted two excellent chances to rectify matters.
First, Mason Mount planted a header wide then Raheem Sterling hit the post from close range after Vicente Guaita spilled his shot. Yet when Silva stopped Ayew in his tracks, the game suddenly swung Chelsea’s way.
Four minutes later he was picked out in the Palace area by Reece James and his header was controlled and buried in deadly fashion by Aubameyang.
The second half was largely controlled by Chelsea but the subs provided the cutting edge.