Conor Gallagher scored two goals to help Chelsea defeat Crystal Palace 3-1 in a Premier League game

Chelsea overcame a deficit to win at Selhurst Park, where Conor Gallagher netted twice to put more pressure on Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson.

The Blues controlled the first half of the game, but in the thirty-minute mark, Jefferson Lerma of Palace took the lead after grabbing the ball on the edge of the area and blasting it into the top corner.

It took until the 45th minute for Mauricio Pochettino’s team to manage a shot as Palace attempted to frustrate their opponents and secure a much-needed victory to extend the five-point deficit to the relegation zone.

But it only took the visitors two minutes of the second half to draw even when Gallagher, who was on loan at Palace in 2021–22, met Malo Gusto’s looping cross and hammered the ball past Dean Henderson.

Chelsea persisted in their pursuit of a winner, and in stoppage time, Gallagher delivered it with a clean first-time finish. Enzo Fernandez then added a calm finish at the near post to help move his team up to 10th in the standings.

Gallagher leads the charge against his former franchise

After a thrilling FA Cup victory against Aston Villa, Chelsea entered this game with just one forced change, substituting Thiago Silva at center defense for the injured Benoit Badiashile.

Despite controlling possession and making 420 passes in the first half of the match—the highest in the first forty-five minutes of a Premier League game without a goal on target since the 2003–04 campaign—the visitors found it difficult to break down Palace.

This season, Pochettino’s team has had difficulty breaking through low-blocking defenses and has had difficulty getting past Hodgson’s obstinate side.

After making two substitutions at halftime, Cole Palmer moved to the right and Christopher Nkunku entered the game, and Chelsea’s assault appeared more fluid.

Palmer was the one who slid in a wide cross to set up Gallagher’s second goal, a superbly drilled finish into the lower corner.
After scoring in the cup against Villa, the England midfielder has three goals in two games. He will be hoping that his first league goal of the season sparks a run of form for both himself and his club.

In what will be a pivotal two weeks of their season, Chelsea will play Leeds in the FA Cup and Liverpool in the EFL Cup final after traveling to Manchester City on Saturday.

Hodgson’s future is being scrutinized

After suffering a devastating loss to rivals Brighton, Palace entered this game under increased criticism due to manager Hodgson’s patchy play.

Gallagher’s dragging shot that went wide in the first half was the only opportunity the Eagles had to deal with because of their strong defense.

In an attempt to cope with the loss of vital players Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze, Hodgson gave Brazilian Matheus Franca and January deadline day newcomer Adam Wharton their Premier League debuts.
After Lerma’s blistering 25-yard shot, it appeared as though the alterations had been successful; but, giving up a goal just 80 seconds into the second half undid all the hard work.

Once more, fans displayed their dissatisfaction with the team with banners, and concerns regarding Hodgson’s future will only grow as Chelsea won the match thanks to late goals.

“All I can do is hope that the supporters are grounded. They are aware of our current issues with injuries and team selection,” stated Hodgson.

“They are also aware that some of the players are younger and are still figuring things out. It is my hope that they will take all of those factors into account.

“I don’t know what people are thinking and what their attitude is going to be, but I do think that today the team gave their very best and did give the fair-minded supporter a chance to believe in this team and believe in this club as we go forward.”

They go to Everton on Monday and then host Burnley, where they are now ranked fifteenth in the table.