CONOR GALLAGHER came back to haunt Crystal Palace in the cruelest possible fashion.
The England Under-21 star fired in a screamer from 25 yards to take all three points in the last minute.
Earlier, Palace had taken the lead through Odsonne Edouard.
Then Chelsea could have had Thiago Silva sent off for handling the ball when he was the last man in a one-on-one situation.
Brazil veteran Silva, 38, then turned creator as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang turned and finished brilliantly for an equaliser.
Cue Gallagher, 22 – who was so superb for the Eagles on loan last season – sticking the knife in with a last-gasp clincher.
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- Lloyd Canfield
Potential red cards?
There were arguably two red cards that should have been dished out in the first half of the game, but neither of them were given.
Odsonne Edouard was already on a yellow, when he bundled Kepa to the ground to stop him from taking a quick goal kick, but the referee decided to seemingly let him off and continue playing.
Just after this, Thiago Silva tried to bring down Ayew, and then grabbed the ball with his hands, but escaped with a yellow card due to being a good distance away from his own goal.
Fortunate really for Chelsea, as he went on to assist Aubameyang's opener for the visitors.
Thiago Silva was lucky to escape with a yellow card against Crystal Palace.Credit: AFP - Lloyd Canfield
Some fun facts…
There were a number of talking points about this game, so here are a few of them rounded up…
- Last season at Selhurst Park, Chelsea secured the winner in the 89th minute, which happened again today.
- Chelsea have now won 10 games in a row against Crystal Palace.
- Christian Pulisic came off the bench to assist Conor Gallagher's winner, which further proves his good run of games against Palace.
You never forget your first…
That saying will certainly ring true for Conor Gallagher and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this afternoon, as they both scored beauties to secure their first goals in a Chelsea shirt.
Auba swiveled inside the box and smashed a volley into the back of the net to secure the equaliser.
But it was Conor Gallagher who stole the show late on, with a curling effort from outside the box in the 89th minute that was unstoppable, it almost seemed like destiny.
- Lloyd Canfield
What a game…
Wow.
That game had it all.
Two potential red cards, not given, a brilliant atmosphere which is guaranteed at Selhurst Park, an Aubameyang volley AND a Gallagher screamer to win the game at the death.
Chelsea overturned a 1-0 deficit away to Crystal Palace, thanks to goals from Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Conor Gallagher, who came off the bench to score on his return to Selhurst Park.
It is a huge first win for Graham Potter in his first Premier League game in charge of The Blues, who now overtake Fulham and Manchester United to sit 5th in the Premier League.
- Lloyd Canfield
FT. Crystal Palace 1-2 Chelsea.
The referee calls a close to this spectacular game of football.
Chelsea come away with all three points thanks to Conor Gallagher's beautiful first goal for Chelsea.
- Lloyd Canfield
90+2. Crystal Palace 1-2 Chelsea.
We are into the second of four added minutes at Selhurst Park.
Chilwell clears his lines and Chelsea will look to hold possession and see this one out.
- Lloyd Canfield
90. Crystal Palace 1-2 Chelsea.
What a goal.
We said earlier that the script could be written for a scoring return to Selhurst Park, and it looks like we were right…
Christian Pulisic sets him up Gallagher outside the box, and he bends an absolute beauty into the top right corner.
Wow. The 89th minute again, deja vu for Palace.
- Lloyd Canfield
89. Crystal Palace 1-2 Chelsea.
THE SCRIPT IS WRITTEN. CONOR GALLAGHER SCORES A SCREAMER!
- Lloyd Canfield
87. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
It must be said that Palace are looking the more likely side to grab a winner here in this one.
The Chelsea substitutes have failed to really add an injection of pace into the game.
Kovacic gets a yellow card for a tactical foul on Michael Olise.
- Lloyd Canfield
85. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Crystal Palace get a flurry of corners, as they look to take advantage of Mateta's height in the middle.
He does win the latest corner, but it is over the crossbar and it will be a goal kick for Chelsea.
- Lloyd Canfield
82. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Wilfried Zaha does really well down the right hand side again, but still no goal for Palace.
Will Hughes and Mateta are on for Palace, in replacement of Edouard and Doucoure.
Christian Pulisic comes on for Mason Mount, don't forget about his record against The Eagles, he could prove the difference.
- Lloyd Canfield
80. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Zaha does well to get a cross into the middle, but nothing comes of it for Palace.
Gallagher looks to play a long ball into Broja, but Tomkins does well to stop it.
The Blues look to counter and the ball is played to Sterling, but he takes a heavy touch in the box and the chance is lost for Chelsea.
- Lloyd Canfield
78. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Ex-Chelsea man Guehi does brilliantly to slide across the turf and stop the marauding Reece James from getting a cross into the middle.
Sterling fires a shot at goal, but Guaita makes the catch.
- Lloyd Canfield
76. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Aubameyang and Havertz are off for Broja and Gallagher.
Conor Gallagher gets a warm welcome back to Selhurst Park from the home supporters.
Is the script written for a scoring return to Selhurst Park?
- Lloyd Canfield
72. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Eze looks to be through, but Kepa does well to come out and claim.
Loftus-Cheek finds James in space, but his cross is blocked.
Jeffrey Schlupp is coming on for Ebere Eze, who put in a good showing today, and gets a warm ovation from the home fans.
- Lloyd Canfield
70. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Loftus-Cheek looks for the run of Reece James, but the pass is sloppy, and goes out for a goal kick.
Palace look to counter with Olise down the right hand side, who finds Zaha…
Zaha fires a shot at goal, but it is well saved by Kepa in goal.
- Lloyd Canfield
68. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Chelsea still searching for a winner, Sterling breaks free after a lapse in concentration by Mitchell.
He looks to play to ball across the box when maybe he should've taken a shot at goal, it comes to nothing.
- Lloyd Canfield
66. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Loftus-Cheek looks for the dink over the top for Aubameyang, but Guaita does well to close it down and claim it.
Last season, Hakim Ziyech scored the winner in this fixture in the 89th minute.
- Lloyd Canfield
64. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Palace are playing pinball in their own box for a second, with the ball bouncing all over the place in the Palace half.
Reece James plays a lovely first time ball for Havertz on the right hand side, but the German can't find a finishing touch.
- Lloyd Canfield
62. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
A polite reminder that NONE of the last 22 meetings between these two sides have produced a draw.
It is all to play for…
Zaha goes up against James, but there is only one winner as the English right back stands his ground.
- Lloyd Canfield
60. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Half an hour to go in this one, with the game definitely open enough for either team to grab a winner.
Havertz had a decent chance a moment ago after a lovely reverse pass from Mason Mount, but the German's shot was blocked.
- Lloyd Canfield
58. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Another potential injury issue for Palace here.
Marc Guehi goes down before hobbling off to receive some treatment.
- Lloyd Canfield
56. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Aubameyang does well to find Havertz, who picks out Raheem Sterling.
Raheem does a little bit too much, before setting Ben Chilwell up for a shot from distance that he fires over.
Almost incredible from Raheem.
- Lloyd Canfield
54. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
It looks like Graham Potter is going to make use of his first substitute, with Jorginho making way for Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Worth remembering that RLC was on loan at Crystal Palace, and was a fan favourite in his time at Selhurst Park.
- Lloyd Canfield
52. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Mason Mount receives a yellow card.
Olise drives towards the Chelsea box, before being dispossessed and Mitchell wins a foul.
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