Half-time: Chelsea 1 Crystal Palace 0

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Eden Hazard scored from the follow-up from his own saved penalty to put Chelsea within 45 minutes of winning the Premier League title.

The Blues just about edged a cagey first half lacking both excitement and chances until Hazard won the spot-kick just before the break after exchanging passes with Willian and being brought down in the box by James McArthur.

The Belgian’s shot was saved by keeper Julian Speroni but he headed home at the second attempt

Before then Chelsea struggled to break down a well-organised Crystal Palace side looking to play on the counter-attack.

Neither side threatened much in the opening 20 minutes, with a speculative 30-yard Juan Cuadrado shot that went over the only serious attempt on goal.

But the home side then began to take control in midfield through Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas

Matic had a shot blocked by Julian Speroni after Palace made a terrible mess of an attempt to play offside from a free-kick, and the Eagles keeper was lucky to get away with spilling a dipping Didier Drogba free-kick.

Palace’s best chance saw Jason Puncheon’s shot deflected wide by Cesar Azpilicueta.

Cuadrado came in to the starting line-up in midfield at the last minute for Ramires, who was ill while Thibaut Courtois returned in goal after missing the midweek win over Leicester City.

Drogba was preferred to the fit-again Loic Remy, who was named on the bench.

Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Willian, Cuadrado, Hazard; Drogba.
Subs: Cech, Filipe Luis, Zouma, Mikel, Ake, Loftus-Cheek, Remy.

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