Relief for under-pressure Potter as Chelsea edge out spirited Eagles on day of emotion

Chelsea 1 Crystal Palace 0

As a pall of poignancy lilted over Stamford Bridge, an afternoon of contrasting fortunes gradually emerged.

Ahead of this capital clash against Crystal Palace, everyone connected with Chelsea paid a heartfelt tribute to their late player and manager, Gianluca Vialli, who passed away recently. One of the finest sons ever to grace SW6, the plaintive chants from all four corners of the stadium for the Italian soared with ache and melancholy, with former team mates looking on.

‘Charming, respectful, determined’, as the Blues announced over the PA system, the fresh Vialli banners fluttering at each end of a ground he graced with such guile as a player in the late nineties, before becoming manager. Even in a business renowned for superfluous hype, we will never see his like again. ‘Vialli, Vialli’ tumbled down from the stands, sporadically in a sunny breeze.

On the pitch, relief eventually came for embattled Chelsea and their manager Graham Potter. Frustration for a spirited Crystal Palace who came so near to taking a point in the derby.

Match report here

In the pre-match circumstances facing Potter, on a lean run with the Blues, capped with a 2-1 midweek defeat against near-neighbours Fulham, it was imperative to chalk up three Premier League points, by virtually any means necessary. This was far from a flawless performance from the hosts, who seemed to retreat into their shell to protect their 1-0 lead, a fine header from Kai Havertz in the 64th minute.

Nevertheless, sometimes a win is all you need with the vultures circling Potter, as they did in a packed Craven Cottage press room on Thursday.

The manner of this capital triumph will mean a lot less to the Blues boss, who has been spending the last few weeks justifying his role as he negotiates a season with a host of players missing with injury. At least this industrious win, in an often ill-tempered clash, especially in the closing stages as Palace chased a leveller, provides a platform for Chelsea to move on.

How curious it is, therefore, that the west Londoners travel to Merseyside next weekend, to face fellow current exponents of mediocrity, Liverpool, in a mid-table game. The sheer oddity of it. Chelsea at present, find themselves attempting to sufficiently stabilise in order to target European football as much as anything else.

“Fantastic - and an emotional day because of the tribute which was very fitting for a man of his (Vialli's) quality,” said Potter. “The crowd too, recognised the moment we were in, and they stuck with the guys and got their reward.

Relieved

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t relieved, it’s nice to get a win, especially after Fulham. You have to keep going and deal with tough situations, take the criticism and accept responsibilities. It’s important for the players to celebrate this win and it builds us for next week.

“There is a period of transition here (in terms of recruitment) – that is a challenge for us. We need more points and wins with a squad that’s balanced. We have ten, eleven, players unavailable and you can’t sign players to replace them all. The January transfer window is complicated but it’s my job to improve the team.”

Potter is looking forward, at least, to a more settled schedule for Chelsea. The Blues are out of both domestic cups, so despite that disappointment there is leeway for improvements overall in his first season at the helm.

He added: “Even though we walked into a washing machine of games – a Champions League condensed schedule before the World Cup, you’re struggling for stability and the confidence that stability brings. We’ve had to deal with an unprecedented situation. Time is valuable now for us and we’ll use it the best we can.”

Palace, on the other hand, can rue a day of particular disappointment. They had chances, with Michael Olise and Jeffrey Schlupp going close. But the Eagles’ belated enterprise, as they burst with self-belief in the final half hour, came to nothing, finding Chelsea keeper Kepa in sharp form.

Chelsea, mindful of recent form, opted to protect their slender lead - and they just about held off the trickery of Wilfried Zaha as Palaces’ lock picker came so close.

Disappointed

Palace boss Patrick Vieira, meanwhile, was disappointed to leave empty handed, considering his team’s response to going a goal down. He was unhappy with referee Peter Bankes who be believed harshly treated the visitors, amid niggles and over-zealousness.

“I think we did enough to at least get a point today,” said a frustrated Vieira. “We had a lot of decisions against us today. We created enough chances to score goals – we should score more goals, that is a fact.

“We just wanted to be treated like everybody else, and that (Bankes’ performance) is something I cannot accept."

The Eagles have not scored in eight of their eighteen league games. Relative comfort in mid-table still needs to be reinforced, though, with improved results, starting against Manchester United at Selhurst Park on Wednesday.

As the Palace manager explained: “When you don’t win games you lose confidence, but I will send a message to the players about their performance. They have done so before (responding to setbacks) and will do so again.”