Chelsea secured a convincing victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday, marking a promising start for new head coach Liam Rosenior. The standout performer was Estêvão, who scored the opening goal following a mistake from his teammate Jaydee Canvot, and later assisted João Pedro for the second goal. This win ended Chelsea's five-match winless streak away from home in the Premier League.

Controversial Moments for Palace

Crystal Palace's afternoon was marred by controversy, including the sending off of Adam Wharton and a penalty awarded to Chelsea that further complicated Canvot's day. Canvot was brought in to replace Marc Guéhi after his transfer to Manchester City, and his performance was scrutinized as Palace extended their winless run against Chelsea in the league to 17 matches. Despite a late goal from Chris Richards, Palace has now gone 11 games without a victory across all competitions, raising concerns as they prepare for upcoming matches against Nottingham Forest and Brighton.

Rosenior's Positive Start

For Rosenior, the win is a significant boost as his team climbs back into the top four and remains unbeaten in the Premier League since he took over from Enzo Maresca earlier this month. Estêvão received a standing ovation when substituted 16 minutes before the end, and Rosenior was also met with cheers from the crowd at the final whistle. Reflecting on the support from Chelsea fans, Rosenior stated, “I hope so. I’m very happy to be here. But it’s two-way – I have to earn that and I hope over time they will see that something good might happen here.”

Meanwhile, Palace's new head coach Oliver Glasner received a warm welcome from fans despite the team's struggles. He acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, “We are in transition and there are going to be some tough periods.” Glasner emphasized the importance of unity among the fans and the club during this transitional phase, noting that it would be unfair to place blame on players like Jean-Philippe Mateta for missed opportunities.