MOR OF THE SAME
Chelsea 3 Crystal Palace 1: Alvaro Morata continues red-hot form as he notches double
Morata has now scored four goals in as many games for the Blues who edged past Palace on Sunday
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THE Matthew Harding Stand got it spot on.
Alvaro Morata, reborn in Chelsea colours, scores when he wants.
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The Spanish forward is a four in four man these days, soaking up the adulation from the adoring home fans after his match-winning intervention
At times, this was Chelsea – Morata included – at their compelling, captivating best.
When Palace equalised after 52 minutes through Andros Townsend, they had more than enough to take Roy Hodgson’s side apart in the final half hour.
By the time Pedro scored Chelsea’s third, the gulf in class had been brutally exposed after the introduction of Eden Hazard with 30 minutes left.
His lolloping free-kick towards Morata was finished at the far post, rifled beyond Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey to turn this back in Chelsea’s favour.
Sarri, with his bold, ambitious, attacking substitutions, is king around here now.
Those throaty Chelsea fans up in the Matthew Harding have taken to him, swapping cries of “Antonio” for “Maurizio” in honour of their clever Italian coach.
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri says Alvaro Morata can be a ‘little bit fragile’ and must improve
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Under his guidance, Chelsea are playing with a swagger.
David Luiz is one of them, rolling the ball down his chest and shifting the emphasis of the attack with a nifty Cruyff turn before passing on to the next man.
Ross Barkley’s cavalier style suits them, with the Chelsea midfielder trying to get in on everything around the Palace penalty area.
Then there was Pedro, scampering all the way back to his own half to pinch the ball off Andros Townsend to spring another Chelsea attack.
Evenutally, he got the goal his game deserved.
He was a nuisance out there, setting up Chelsea’s opener at the second time of asking when James Tomkins cut out his initial cross.
Pedro fizzed it towards Morata again, with the big man taking the trouble to create and space before beating Wayne Hennessey with a simple finish.
Watch all the latest Premier League action from our Sunday 4th November round-up
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The Chelsea striker has the taste for it.
He milked the moment, sprinting off towards the disbelieving home fans after scoring for the third time in four Premier League games.
The confidence is flowing again, adding another dimension to Chelsea’s attacking menace in the temporary absence of Hazard.
Their mainman was on the bench, saved for the final 30 match-winning minutes after failing to properly recover from a back injury in time.
Sarri was trying to save the star man for the bigger,tougher cookies to come in the days ahead than Crystal Palace.
In the end, he crumbled.
He had to call for him because Palace wormed their way back in when Townsend levelled, but all the joy on the visitors bench was very short-lived.
These south London boys are getting sucked in, with the days starting to add up since their last Premier League win.
Huddersfield away, on September 15, when Palace beat the Terriers 1-0 on the road was the last time Roy Hodgson came in post-match with a smile on his face.
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It is tough for a club with Palace’s resources to come up with a plan to stop Chelsea when they are playing like this.
Even so, they gave it a damn good go.
The real Palace came out for the start of the second half, showing their teeth with the same qualities that saw them eek out a draw against Arsenal last weekend.
This time it was Townsend, skipping through Chelsea’s defence before planting a right-footed effort beyond Kepa.
It was a lovely move, engineered when James McArthur’s cushioned touch sent Townsend clear of Luiz.
His finish, the first time Townsend has scored in 20 Premier League matches, was a typical, swashbuckling effort from range.
Sarri’s response was instant.
Within minutes he was sending for reinforcements, scrambling Hazard and the meaty figure of Mateo Kovacic to help them out.
Alvaro Morata misses great one on one chance to grab Chelsea hat-trick against Crystal Palace
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These are big players, the sort of strength in depth any manager would dearly love to be able to call on at this level.
Palace gave away a free-kick, the sort of innocuous set-piece that should have been sent clear by any Premier League defence worth their salt.
Instead they allowed Hazard’s up-and-under to reach Morata at the far stick and the Chelsea striker beat Hennessey for the second time.
Palace were done, with too many defenders pointing fingers at each to believe they could stage another recovery.
Chelsea are building up a head of steam, gathering momentum as they take on all comers under their crafty new head coach.
He is getting the best out of these boys, with Pedro among his star turns during this charge towards the top of the Premier League table.
The winger scored Chelsea’s third, deservedly so after one of those eye-catching performances out on the right.
Marcos Alonso fizzed in a low cross and slipped through the Palace defence before beating Hennessey with a razor-sharp touch.
It sent this place home happy, giving Chelsea fans the idea that they might have a proper say in the title race.
Keep this up and they could be right.
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