Driving force: Reece James was crucial for Chelsea once again
(Picture: REUTERS)Conor Gallagher’s late stunner secured all three points for Chelsea away at Crystal Palace.
The 22-year-old refused to celebrate in front of his former loan club but was the match winner in a tight game in south London.
His 90th-minute strike followed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s equaliser late in the first half after Odsonne Edouard opened the scoring early on.
Patrick Vieira was booked after his fury that Thiago Silva stayed on the pitch after a deliberate handball that stopped Jordan Ayew from running in on goal.
Here’s how Nizaar Kinsella rated the Chelsea players at Selhurst Park...
Kepa Arrizabalaga - 7
Quite a busy showing down at Selhurst Park with the stand-in goalkeeper forced into several saves and to deal with a host of crosses.
He was not at fault for the opening goal and, at times, kept Chelsea in the game.
Reece James - 8
A driving force down the right as ever creating a chance for Raheem Sterling who hit the post. The Chelsea game plan centered around him creating an overload down his side.
Having faced him several times before, James once again kept Palace star Wilfried Zaha quiet on his side. He made a vital clearance in his six-yard box in the 81st minute, which was as important as any goal.
Wesley Fofana - 5
He was largely the one to blame for Crystal Palace’s first goal, losing possession in midfield and not getting back in to stop the cross which Odsonne Edouard tapped in.
It has been a rocky start for the £70million signing from Leicester City.
Thiago Silva - 6
Silva was lucky not to be sent off in the 33rd minute after deliberately handballing it with Jordan Ayew running through on goal.
The 38-year-old stayed up after a corner and was decisive for the goal, heading down for Aubameyang to score.
Ben Chilwell - 5
After a quiet first half where he allowed Palace’s goal to come down his side, he blazed a shot over in the 55th minute. He still looks like he is recovering from the long-term knee injury sustained last season.
Mason Mount - 5
The midfielder was wasteful in front of goal, heading just wide in the 20th minute and blazing an indirect free-kick just wide in first-half stoppage time. He did, however, set up Havertz with a reverse in the 57th minute who was wasteful of his chance inside the box.
Jorginho - 5
A nice clipped ball saw Pierre Emerick Aubameyang run in behind in the 12th minute but he often struggled with the transition pace of Palace’s young attackers. He was subbed off very early into the second half.
Mateo Kovacic - 5
He gave the ball away more than Chelsea would have liked and was similarly underwhelming to his starting midfield partner.
Kai Havertz - 6
In his favoured no10 position, Havertz created Chelsea’s first big chance of the game crossing for Mount’s header. He curled a shot wide in the dying moments of half-time. He wasted a chance in the second half, but it was a confident performance.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - 7
Aubameyang’s stunning 38th-minute volley into Jack Butland’s near post. It was perfect echnique from a striker who has done this kind of finish time and again, netting the first league goal of the Potter era.
It must be said, the Gabon international wasn’t influential apart from his finish.
Raheem Sterling - 6
Hit the post in the 24th minute after latching onto a low Reece James cross, using his scrappy running style to keep the ball amid pressure in the box.
The forward kept switching sides as the key cog to react tactically to Crystal Palace and create overloads for Potter.
Substitutes
Ruben Loftus-Cheek - 6
The Cobham graduate came on for Jorginho in the 55th minute and he was given license to attack from his deep role. It was a steady showing without transforming the match.
Conor Gallagher - 8
In an attacking no10 role, the former Palace loanee got a great reception after winning Player of the Season in South London last season.
That may have buoyed him in his short spell on the pitch where he curled the winning goal into the top corner in the 90th minute.
Armando Broja - 6
Almost latched onto a weak back pass, in a typically energetic short time on the pitch.
Christian Pulisic - 7
He came on in his favoured left wing position but had just 10 minutes to impact the game and used his energy to create Gallagher’s goal.
His attitude was exceptional to impact the game despite the undoubted disappointment of being a substitute for the eighth time in nine matches this season.
Unused substitutes: Bettinelli, Chalobah, Azpilicueta, Koulibaly, Ziyech
