Kai Havertz’s 64th-minute header gave Chelsea a 1-0 win against Crystal Palace to end their three-game losing run and ease some of the pressure on Graham Potter.
Havertz scored from close range from Hakim Ziyech’s whipped cross, temporarily halting talk of a crisis around Stamford Bridge
It was a hard-fought victory with Kepa Arrizabalaga forced into several big saves.
Benoit Badiashile made his debut and new singing Mykhailo Mudryk was unveiled at half-time following his £88million move from Shakhtar.
Nizaar Kinsella was at Stamford Bridge witnessing the action...
Kepa Arrizabalaga - 7
Unconvincing on a cross that forced him to recover and make a good save from Tyrick Mitchell’s acrobatic volley. He then made several good saves across both halves, including a spectacular one from Cheick Doucoure.
Trevoh Chalobah - 6
He coped well with the demands of playing right back, despite it being far from his best position. Rarely left his own half, focusing on his defensive duties.
Thiago Silva - 8
One of Chelsea’s best players at both ends of the pitch. The 38-year-old is consistently Chelsea’s most important defender and made a host of first contacts in his own box. Almost scored with a half-volley.
Benoit Badiashile - 6
On his Chelsea debut, the 21-year-old made one mistake with his positioning early on but recovered to produce a solid display. He possibly did enough to keep his place ahead of Koulibaly away at Liverpool next week.
Lewis Hall - 7
The 18-year-old continues to be preferred to Marc Cucurella and was impressive. The only part of his game that is below par is his finishing, wasting several big chances since breaking through in recent weeks. He got a standing ovation after being substituted due to a knock.
Conor Gallagher - 7
Often drifted into positions wide on the right and he was a threat with his crossing from midfield. The midfielder has been very poor in recent weeks but playing against his former loan club seemed to galvanise him.
Jorginho - 6
A tidy performance to maintain possession in midfield against Palace, who were happy to fall back on their counter-attacking instincts.
Carney Chukwuemeka - 5
On his first start for Chelsea, the 19-year-old worked hard for his team but didn’t have quite the same impact that he had when coming from the bench. An important learning curve for the £20m signing from Aston Villa as he was substituted in the 62nd minute.
Mason Mount - 5
A wasteful performance by Mount who drifted in and out of the game. His sustained period of poor form has to be a concern now.
Kai Havertz - 6
The 23-year-old made little impact as the central striker until he scored a headed chance. He had squandered a similar chance early on but was eventually the match-winner at Stamford Bridge.
Hakim Ziyech - 8
Hakim Ziyech was a threat creatively with Chelsea’s most dangerous attacks coming down his side. He created some of the game’s biggest chances and produced his own good efforts. His whipped cross was the real moment of quality that led to Chelsea’s goal.
Substitutes
Cesar Azpilicueta - N/A
Mateo Kovacic - N/A
Kalidou Koulibaly - 6
He played at left back in a narrow back four as the Blues tried to deal with Palace’s two big strikers. He did it competently.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - 6
The 33-year-old looked threatening in a rare cameo under Graham Potter creating himself a chance that was saved by Vicente Guaita. He also held up the ball well in a period where Chelsea were under pressure.
Unused subs: Bettinelli; Humphreys, Cucurella; Loftus-Cheek; Fofana
