Then more good news. Man of Match Wilfried Zaha added a second for a shock win over Chelsea.
Even more good news. It was their first win and points of the season.
And it goes on. It could have been by a bigger margin if Patrick van Aanholt hadn’t missed a sitter in the closing minutes.
Wow. This was a shocker. No wonder the stadium erupted at the end as Palace yet again became Chelsea’s nadir.
This wasn’t a fluke. No one off. Palace took Chelsea on full frontal and deserved all they got.
Chelsea showed they do not have the strength in depth, and key injuries are proving costly.
When it’s up-and-at-them they seem to wilt like winter roses.
They weren’t bad, but they weren’t good either and manager Antonio Conte needs to massage a few egos before they play Roma in the Champions League Cup on Tuesday.
One player certainly needs a shoulder to cry on is striker Michy Batshuayi, who is not one of his favourites.
The Belgium international only gets a look-in when times are tough and yesterday he was called on to replaced injured Alavro Morata only to be substituted yet again when Palace were 2-1 up.
Batshuayi showed his displeasure by hurling his sock tie-ups to the fl oor.
It’s another problem Conte must overcome to resore order and confi dence.
But this wasn’t about Chelsea, more how Palace licked wounds, picked themselves off the ropes and gave manager Roy Hodgson hope for the future.
Palace went into the game goalless, pointless and with the worst record of any top flight club in Europe.
It was supposed to be fill-your-boots-time by Chelsea even though they were without striker Alvaro Morata and N’golo Kante. Still a walkover was expected.
No one told Palace or fit again Zaha. Palace showed tremendous spirit, having Chelsea on the back foot early.
Chelsea looked shocked by the onslaught and thankfully held on, with keeper Thibaut Courtois and last ditch defending coming to rescue.
This wasn’t the Chelsea we knew, and neither the Palace that had walked on mine-fields trying to rescue a season that looked going pear-shape.
They swiftly crushed all Chelsea attacks, grew in confidence and.......scored for the first time this season in the 11th minute. Phew.
Andy Townsend wormed his way down the right, crossed and Jeffrey Schlupp moved it on and Yoyan Cabaye’s shot was deflected off Cesar Apilicueta into into the goal.
It was given as OG. But did Palace care?
No chance the bridge had been broken. It was their first goal in 341 minutes this season.
But their joy did not last long. Within seven minutes Chelsea equalised when Cesc Fabregas swung over a corner and Tiemoue Bakayoko, his snow-grey hair standing out, headed in.
He’s threatened to colour it blue if they continue their run.
It was white again when Palace added a second in one minute of first half added time.
Mamadou Sakho blundered through an unconvincing Chelsea defence and the balled dropped to Zaha to score.
Palace keeper Julian Speroni, making a rare first team appearance, did well to keep out a Fabregas block-buster within minutes of the second half.
He did it again to keep put a low shot from dub Pedro, yet the tide always flowed into Chelsea’s face with Palace looking good, ruthless and determined.
Chelsea could not find a way through Palace’s defence and Conte decided Batshauyi needed to be replaced.
It wasn’t pretty with the Belgium international having a strop on the touchline when replaced by Pedro, throwing his sock tie into the dirt....much to the mirth of Palace fans.
Palace had won only one of their previous eight Premier League matches against Chelsea at Selhurst Park and they were determined to make their mark.
They took to ball constantly into Chelsea’s defence and when their signature tune of ‘Glad All Over’ blasted around the stadium it was greeted with much gustoo.
This wasn’t a fluke. Chelsea were outplayed and much thinking is need incoming weeks if they want to retain their title.
