Palace's downward spiral continues as they slump to defeat against Chelsea, with the visitors riding their luck and a contentious penalty decision to secure a 3-1 win. The Eagles' struggles have been well-documented this season, with star player Eberechi Eze sold in the summer and captain Marc Guehi making a swift exit for Manchester City.
Their poor run has seen them fail to win any of their last 11 games across all competitions, including a shocking defeat at non-league Macclesfield in the FA Cup. Sunday's loss to Chelsea extended their winless league run to eight matches, with six ending in defeat, leaving them 15th in the table and eight points clear of third-bottom West Ham.
Palace ended the match with 10 men after midfielder Adam Wharton was sent off after receiving two yellow cards. Manager Oliver Glasner, who is himself set to leave at the end of the season, was philosophical about his team's plight, saying that they needed confidence from results rather than luck. However, he did express frustration about the outcome and vowed to turn things around.
The penalty decision against Palace has sparked controversy, with former Premier League referee Darren Cann claiming it was a mistake to award a spot-kick when Jaydee Canvot blocked Joao Pedro's goal-bound shot with his arm. The incident is being reviewed by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), who have suggested that a penalty should not be given if the player does not deliberately handle the ball and does not make their body unnaturally bigger.
Despite their struggles, Palace are still one point better off than at this stage last season and can book a spot in the Conference League's last 16 if they come through a two-legged play-off against Zrinjski Mostar from Bosnia-Herzegovina. The team's fate will be decided by their ability to overcome their current slump and rediscover their form, rather than relying on luck.
Their poor run has seen them fail to win any of their last 11 games across all competitions, including a shocking defeat at non-league Macclesfield in the FA Cup. Sunday's loss to Chelsea extended their winless league run to eight matches, with six ending in defeat, leaving them 15th in the table and eight points clear of third-bottom West Ham.
Palace ended the match with 10 men after midfielder Adam Wharton was sent off after receiving two yellow cards. Manager Oliver Glasner, who is himself set to leave at the end of the season, was philosophical about his team's plight, saying that they needed confidence from results rather than luck. However, he did express frustration about the outcome and vowed to turn things around.
The penalty decision against Palace has sparked controversy, with former Premier League referee Darren Cann claiming it was a mistake to award a spot-kick when Jaydee Canvot blocked Joao Pedro's goal-bound shot with his arm. The incident is being reviewed by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), who have suggested that a penalty should not be given if the player does not deliberately handle the ball and does not make their body unnaturally bigger.
Despite their struggles, Palace are still one point better off than at this stage last season and can book a spot in the Conference League's last 16 if they come through a two-legged play-off against Zrinjski Mostar from Bosnia-Herzegovina. The team's fate will be decided by their ability to overcome their current slump and rediscover their form, rather than relying on luck.