Mateta punishes Chelsea wastefulness with late strike to earn point for Palace

Nicolas Jackson should have finished with a hat-trick but his profligacy in front of goal came back to bite the Blues who have now gone four games without a win.

Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta celebrates the equaliser

Premier League: Crystal Palace 1 Chelsea 1

CHELSEA were made to pay for a number of missed chances by Nicolas Jackson as JP Mateta's late goal earned Crystal Palace a point at Selhurst Park.

Jackson should have finished with a hat-trick but his profligacy in front of goal came back to bite the Blues who have now gone four games without a win.

Jackson was denied a shot on goal by a brilliant covering tackle by Chris Richards inside the opening 10 minutes before Cole Palmer scored his 13th goal of the season from close range after a fantastic run by Jadon Sancho.

The Manchester United loanee produced an outrageous dummy to leave Richards flat-footed and his perfect pass to Palmer was finished smartly by the England international.

Jackson twice should have extended Chelsea's lead when he first side-footed wide after being picked out at the back post by Sancho's cross and again when put clear by Palmer but opted to use the outside of his left foot and curled the shot just wide.

Palace offered little in attack before half-time but were much improved after the restart and Eberechi Eze should have levelled the scores but side-footed wide from close range from Ismaila Sarr's low cross.

Richards then had a header tipped over the bar by Sanchez from an Eze corner before Jackson spurned yet another opportunity to put the game to bed when he fired wide from inside the box when he really should have hit the target.

Chelsea dominated possession but the lack of a second goal kept Palace in the game and eight minutes from time the home side got a reward for the persistence when the excellent Saar won the ball deep in the Chelsea half and played in Eze.

The Palace playmaker did well to draw Sanchez out towards him, then squared the pass to Mateta who tapped into an empty net.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez, Gusto, Acheampong, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez (c), Neto, Palmer, Sancho (Madueke 86), Jackson (Guiu 81). 

Unused subs: Jorgensen, James, Disasi, Tosin, Veiga, Joao Felix, Nkunku. 

Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Richards, Guehi, Lacroix; Munoz, Doucoure (Kamada 69), Lerma, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze (Nketiah 87); Mateta. 

Unused subs: Turner, Riad, Clyne, Devenny, Schlupp, Kporha, Agbinone.

Referee: Tim Robinson