The lowdown on Chelsea 1 Crystal Palace 1 – Eagles pick up first Premier League point of the season as Cheick Doucoure changes the game

Crystal Palace picked up their first point of the Premier League campaign following a 1-1 draw at Chelsea on Sunday.

Nicolas Jackson opened the scoring after 25 minutes after he met Cole Palmer’s cross along the face of goal. 

The points were shared when Eberechi Eze curled an effort from the edge of the box beyond Robert Sanchez in the 53rd minute.

Here is Edmund Brack’s lowdown on the match from Stamford Bridge: 

THE LINE-UPS

Palace: Henderson, Munoz, Clyne, Guehi, Richards, Mitchell, Hughes (Doucoure, 50), Wharton, Kamada (Schlupp, 88), Eze, Mateta (Sarr, 69).

Subs not used: Matthews, Ward, Rodney, Umeh, Devenny, Agbinone.

Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto (72, Mudryk), Colwill, Fofana, Cucurella, Fernandez, Caicedo, Madueke (Nkunku, 85), Neto (Felix, 58), Jackson.

Subs not used: Jorgensen, Disasi, Adarabioyo, Dewsbury-Hall, Casadei, Veiga. 

SNAPSHOT OF THE GAME

Palace were quickly overrun in midfield in the first half, with Will Hughes’ early booking allowing Noni Madueke a free run at the former Watford man.

The new England international and former Palace academy winger made Hughes pay for his caution in the 25th minute when he skipped past Hughes and played through Cole Palmer.

Ex-Manchester City winger Palmer then crossed along the face of goal for Nicolas Jackson to score. 

The game changed in Palace’s favour when Hughes was taken off just two minutes into the second half following a clumsy challenge that saw referee Jarred Gillett hand him his final warning.

Cheick Doucoure came on to add a bit of bite to Palace’s midfield. The Mali international played a role in Eberechi Eze’s stunning equaliser from the edge of the box in the 53rd minute. 

TACTICAL APPROACH

Glasner made three changes from the side that lost 2-0 at home to West Ham last time out in the Premier League.

Daichi Kamada – fresh from scoring his first goal for the club in the 4-0 EFL Cup win over Norwich in midweek – started as one of the attacking 10s alongside Eberechi Eze.

Nathaniel Clyne, who also impressed against the Championship side, came in for the injured Chadi Riad.

And Will Hughes came in for the injured Jefferson Lerma. 

The Eagles struggled to get a foothold in the game in the first half – with every attack lacking pace and conviction.

Doucoure’s introduction changed the game and allowed Eberechi Eze more freedom to dictate the play.

Ismaila Sarr came on midway through the second half for Mateta to bring more pace to Palace’s attacking line, but the game ended in a draw.

STAR MAN 

Cheick Doucoure. Absolutely immense after coming on in the 47th minute.

The Mali international won two tackles and he completed one interception. The 24-year-old gave Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez a torrid time following his introduction.

A special mention to Dean Henderson for making a number of exceptional saves to keep Palace in the game and assuring they left The Bridge with a point.

BEST MOMENT

Eze’s effort. Despite Palace looking better on the ball and growing into the game once Will Hughes was withdrawn, Glasner’s side had looked void of a goalscoring threat in the first half.

The Greenwich-born playmaker collected the ball from Doucoure’s shot on the edge of the box and curled a stunning effort beyond the outstretched Robert Sanchez.

A TALKING POINT DOWN THE PUB

The bench. While new signings Eddie Nketiah, Trevoh Chalobah and Maxence Lacroix were all signed after the deadline and could not feature in west London, four academy players were named to fill Glasner’s matchday squad.

Kaden Rodney, Asher Agbinone, Justin Devenny and Franco Umeh – who all went on the pre-season tour to the USA – were named in the 18-man squad.

While none of the players were given minutes to change the game, it limited the attacking influence Glasner could have on the game from the bench.

The Eagles failed to add another attacking 10 before the window closed, and the lack of attacking flair in the squad could hinder the number of points they garner before the January transfer window.

WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY

“Overall, it was a deserved point,” said Glasner.

“We were a little bit lucky in the first half with two situations where they missed the goal.

“We had a great goalkeeper today. We knew we needed a great goalkeeper here at Stamford Bridge.

“The players were fantastic in the second half. When we were in our shape, I had a feeling that Chelsea didn’t find space or moments. We were always dangerous in our transitions.

“At the end, we could also see their quality and pace in the attack. We defended fantastically well, and we needed our goalkeeper again in one situation. 

“Because of the second half, it was a deserved point. It’s very important for us to go into the international break with one point in the league.”

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD