Always felt it would be a tight game.
By half time I exchanged a few text messages with a Chelsea supporting mate and we both agreed, it would come down to the first team to make a mistake that would pay the price. And so it went. Mitchell made an error (not in any way blaming him for being human after all!) which led to their opening goal.
After that it is inevitable we were going to have to give it a bit more of a go, which leaves us more open at the back and a team with Chelsea's quality are always going to find the openings and add to their lead.
But I still maintain now that had Chelsea been the one to make that first mistake we would have gone on to win the game.
Its always very fine margins against these quality top level teams. I remain proud of what we have achieved in a short space of time and excited about the future going forward.
I just hope we strengthen in the summer and dont cash in on any of our bright young stars.

An even first half when Chelsea were not at their best, I expected them to play with far greater aplomb in the second period and this proved to be the case.

They were the much better team after the break and overall deserved their win.We never really laid a glove on them in the second half and lost our way with the substitutions.

We are a 'Work in progress' and in transition, and I never expected us to reach the final.We are simply not in their class.
Had we pulled off an unexpected victory we would only had to play Liverpool in the final !

I really want a strong finish in the league to propel us up the table.

To beat Chelsea, Palace needed to be at their absolute best. That's in terms of performance and tactics. Then hope that Chelsea are having a collective off day. Then hope for a slice of luck.

At half time yesterday I thought we were doing enough to stay in the game but no more than that. I also figured that Tuchel would not tolerate another 45 minutes of below par performances from his team.

As is often the case against the best teams, a turnover of possession was harshly punished. But it was undeniable that Chelsea had stepped up a gear in the second half and we would struggle to hold them.

I was surprised at PV's team selection and tactics, and for an hour we were competitive but little more than that. It's easy to critisise a safety first approach, but also easy to understand his first intention was to frustrate them and hope to nick a goal and hang onto it.

What next needs to be a concerted effort from the players to get some more points on the board and achieve a decent finish to the season. Sentiments that PV has already expressed.

Old, Ungifted and White

We needed that one off Kouyaté’s shoulder to bobble in off the post, Chelsea to panic having gone behind and for us to hold on defensively like we did recently in the league game against Man City.

We needed that bit of luck to keep it at 0-0 and then go ahead mid to late on in the second half. We did the first bit but Mitchell’s error cost us big time and there was just no way back.

Really need to refocus and have a strong finish to the season. I fear we won’t and that Shighton might actually finish above us

Edited by Phil’s Barber (18 Apr 2022 4.48pm)

They also had about 400 million worth of talent on the bench . Its hard to compete with that ! and yet they only beat us 2-0 and we had 2 great chances to score, you do need a slice of luck .

I tell you what is disrespectful. You describing my opinion as '' rubbish ''.

And where exactly do I say that ??

I stand by what I wrote. I read today that we have lost the last 9 games against Chelsea. So yes, we need to be at our best and them not to be to beat them. If you think Chelsea were the better team yet ended up losing to Brentford ( it was actually 1-4 ) then it sounds like Brentford had one of those days when it all went their way - kind of what I was saying !

Against the three best teams in the league, we have taken 4 points, all against Man City. Are you seriously saying that Arsenal and Spurs are on the same level as Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea ?

And just for clarity, I have the utmost respect for our manager and our players. They gave it a good go yesterday, but as PV said himself , '' there is still a big gap between Chelsea and ourselves ''.

Old, Ungifted and White