Mateta earns late Crystal Palace equalizer as Chelsea changes fail to improve form | first division

Chelsea have yet to overcome the title challenge that never existed. Carelessness is weighing them down on both sides of the field and, as Enzo Maresca left after this tie with a great performance Crystal Palacehe could find no solace in seeing more evidence that he was right to insist his team is not ready to compete for major honours.

For Maresca, the concern must be that this is becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. The theory that a young group has relaxed after hearing their head coach repeatedly downplay their chances of challenging is gaining momentum. Is faith lacking? This is still an inexperienced team and the big takeaway from Chelsea's latest slip is that they still lack ruthlessness.

It was infuriating. Palace were there for the taking during the first half. Chelsea took the lead thanks to Cole Palmer, whose 13th goal of the season was largely down to the good work of Jadon Sancho, and Nicolas Jackson could have scored a hat-trick at the break.

However, Palace were a different proposition in the second half. His intensity increased and his passes were more agile. Eberechi Eze and Maxence Lacroix had chances and it was no surprise when Jean-Philippe Mateta equalized eight minutes from time. Chelsea, without a win in four games and maintaining fourth place under threat from Newcastle and Manchester City, had done it to themselves.

“We created opportunities but we have to win the game,” Maresca said. “Otherwise, the game is open. Two weeks ago we were talking about the title race. But we knew Newcastle, Aston Villa and City would be there. It's not about the table. The performance was very good.”

Maresca was calm about Chelsea's fall from title contender to top-four contender. However, the guilt has come to him. In recent weeks questions have been asked about the management of his staff. Have you been too passive? He waited until the 81st minute before making his first change here. Christopher Nkunku and João Félix did not understand each other even after the Palace draw.

In Maresca's defense his initial choices worked. The Italian made six changes after Last Monday's defeat in Ipswich. and there was an eye-catching call to shake up their back four by leaving out Axel Disasi and Tosin Adarabioyo for Josh Acheampong, an 18-year-old academy graduate making his first league start.

Was Maresca sending a message about the need for defensive reinforcements given that Benoît Badiashile and Wesley Fofana are long absent? Not so, he said. Acheampong, fresh from signing a new contract last month, didn't look out of place alongside Levi Colwill. “Josh was our best player,” Maresca said.

Admittedly, the youngster was helped by Palace's reluctance to test him during the first half. “We were too passive,” said Palace director Oliver Glasner. Chelsea were comfortable. A deflected shot from Mateta was the closest Palace came.

Chelsea had shown authority from the beginning. Their pressing led to Palace errors and their forwards were lively. Pedro Neto ran at Tyrick Mitchell on the right. Palmer was a threat.

Palace were baffled, Cheick Doucouré and Jefferson Lerma were unsure who was supposed to follow Chelsea's main threat. Palmer was in his element and had help. Fourteen minutes had passed when Chris Richards, starting Trevoh Chalobah ineligible against his parent club, was beaten by an outrageous Sancho dummy on the left. It was a cheeky gesture from the winger and he backed it up with a clever pass to Palmer, who slid a low shot past Dean Henderson.

Sensing weakness, Chelsea went for more. The problem, however, is that Jackson's confidence has dropped in front of goal. Palmer smiled sadly as he played with the striker to stab wide.

The profligacy gave Palace hope. Eze shot wide at the start of the second half and Robert Sánchez denied Lacroix. Daniel Muñoz was a buccaneer force on the right. Chelsea's composure faded, Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández lost control in midfield.

There was a sense of inevitability about the tie after Jackson and Fernandez missed chances to double the lead. Finally, Muñoz searched Palmer's pocket and found Ismaïla Sarr. Chelsea were open and Sarr released Eze, who selflessly squared for Mateta to score. “A deserved point,” Glasner said. It was difficult to argue.