Chelsea drops first points in frustrating 0-0 against Crystal Palace

Abdullateef Fowewe

Chelsea’s pursuit of an early Premier League rise hit an unexpected snag as they struggled to break down a resolute Crystal Palace defense in a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The match showcased a disciplined Palace side whose organised defensive effort kept Chelsea at bay throughout, marking the Blues’ first dropped points of the season.

Despite Chelsea’s early enthusiasm and control of possession, they were unable to convert pressure into clear-cut scoring opportunities.

Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, given chances in the attacking line, failed to record any tangible impact on the game, largely nullified by Palace’s compact defense.

Chelsea came close from set pieces, but Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson remained untroubled.

A potential breakthrough for Palace came from a free-kick goal by Eberechi Eze, only for it to be controversially disallowed by VAR due to a technical infringement involving wall positioning, escalating frustrations at both ends.

Chelsea’s youthful additions including Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens showed promise in possession but lacked the cutting edge to unlock the “stubborn” Crystal Palace backline. Second-half substitute Estevao offered brief flashes of energy down the wing, yet it was insufficient to change the outcome.

The closing moments saw Chelsea press hard with some late chances falling to Andrey Santos and Delap, but the opportunity slipped away as Palace held firm for a commendable point.