Crystal Palace turned the page on 2024 filled with hope and optimism. Saturday’s impressive second half showing against Chelsea validated their buoyancy.

The opening 15 minutes were packed with blunders from Chris Richards, who was turned far too easily by both Nicolas Jackson and Jadon Sancho. A comedy of errors from the American allowed Chelsea to take the lead within a quarter of an hour. Although Cole Palmer poked the Blues in front, all the credit went to Sancho, who overcame Richards on the halfway line and raced towards the Palace penalty area. After dancing into the box, Sancho contended with Richards again, it was as simple as their first duel, with the winger coming out on top before putting the opener on a plate for Palmer.

Eagles boss Oliver Glasner felt Richards recovered deftly from his early mistakes: "He did well at the back. It's not too easy to defend Sancho and all of their pace. He could have done better for the goal, but we have to accept that Chelsea employ players who can win one-on-ones."

(Image: PA)Sturdiness in defence is crucial against Chelsea, but Palace were the opposite. They were fragile in the first half, with their high line far too unchallenging for the visitor's pacey attacking contingent to exploit. Perfectly timed passes in behind afforded Chelsea plenty of chances, the Blues would have been out of sight if it was not for Jackson’s wasteful finishing.

Brushing aside a difficult start, Palace grew into the affair. Their brightest moves came from a series of looping passes from left to right, which troubled the Chelsea defence. Jefferson Lerma produced the pick of the bunch after he sought out his compatriot Munoz. The wing-back controlled it and set up Jean-Philippe Mateta, whose driven effort was flicked behind.

Despite a mixed first half, Palace improved in the second. An electric counter from the South London outfit crafted space for Munoz on the right-hand side. The 28-year-old profited on Chelsea’s scattered defence and picked out Eberechi Eze who was ready to pounce. Munoz did his bit, yet the theme of Eze’s wastefulness in front of goal continued when the Englishman glanced his effort wide of the post. A player of his quality should have levelled the scoring.

Glasner’s side competed well in a relatively open second half. Mateta had a glimpse with 20 minutes to play after Munoz dispossessed Sancho, but Levi Colwill was on hand to sweep up the danger.

With eight minutes left on the clock, Palace’s resolve was finally rewarded when Ismaila Sarr threaded a testing pass inside the Chelsea area to Eze. The attacker had Mateta to his right and unselfishly shifted the ball to the Frenchman for a tap-in. Selhurst Park erupted as Mateta wheeled off for his trademark ‘boom’ celebration.

Palace were in the ascendancy following their leveller, though they could not find a second to secure their first win over Chelsea in eight years.